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Towards A Solution

The document critiques the linearized model approach in understanding nature's complexity, arguing that it leads to a limited perspective on cause and effect. It emphasizes the need for a holistic view that incorporates ethics, education, and legislation to address environmental crises, rather than relying solely on scientific and technological advancements. The author advocates for solutions that mimic natural processes and promote ethical conduct to maintain ecological balance.

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Shreerang Thergaonkar
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81 views3 pages

Towards A Solution

The document critiques the linearized model approach in understanding nature's complexity, arguing that it leads to a limited perspective on cause and effect. It emphasizes the need for a holistic view that incorporates ethics, education, and legislation to address environmental crises, rather than relying solely on scientific and technological advancements. The author advocates for solutions that mimic natural processes and promote ethical conduct to maintain ecological balance.

Uploaded by

Shreerang Thergaonkar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

I am convinced that the prevalent linearized model approach cannot be used to understand the intrinsic complexity of the way

nature works. I am of the opinion that our inclination to look for highly conditioned linearized cause effect linkages is the basis of our restricted/local views which can be essentially summed-up in two statements (1) food comes from the grocer and (2) heat comes from the furnace.

This localization is also attributable to our explicit belief that science and technology are the only domains for searching solutions. That these are not have been amply exemplified in the chapter growing problems.

Expecting a solution - to the environmental crisis by concocting a druidistic broth comprising of the current advances in non-linear systems theory and other creations of the human mind (game theory,

measure/game-theoretic economics and ecology, etc) without added attributes from ethics, proper education, awareness, and effective legislation at all levels of human-environment interface - is impossible. That, this is indeed so, because no amount of non-linear dynamics, etc, can prevent or contain the greed which is a product, inter alia, of extreme insensitivity of humans towards nature and its processes.

Simple adaptations, for example, as nourished by visionaries like M.K. Gandhi, and which essentially revolve around the themes learn to distinguish between your needs and requirements and be aware and sensitive to the fact that the food that we eat and in fact the very energy which sustains life is from the furnace consisting of the loop of plants, decomposers and soil and fuelled by the sun.

I feel that the sole purpose of religion and religious practices is to keep us constantly aware of and sensitized to this basic loop. This awareness is embodied in what is called ethical conduct. Similarly, the sole purpose of legislation is to contain anthropogenic actions which may upset the stability and sustainability of the loop dynamics.

Science and technology are natural offshoots of heightened sensitivity to nature and have the potential to (1) grow and develop on account of intrinsic questions which are needed to be answered and (2) upset the loop dynamics if not contained by considerations of ethics.

The solution, therefore, must mimic the loop structure. This is the basis for a healthy industrial ecology: processes similar to nature, establishment of the nurse-log systems in industrial scenario, ethical code of conduct and evaluation, and effective legislation.

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