GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND THE COMMON GOOD

In: Monthly review: an independent socialist magazine, Band 46, Heft 9, S. 1-10

Abstract

THE GROWTH OF THE POPULATION HAS PLACED INCREASING PRESSURE ON THE ECOLOGY OF THE PLANET. THIS ARTICLE NOTES THAT BEHIND MOST APPEALS TO ECOLOGICAL MORALITY THERE LIES THE PRESUMPTION THAT WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE THE MORALITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL IS THE KEY TO THE MORALITY OF SOCIETY. IT THEN ARGUES THAT IT IS NOT INDIVIDUALS ACTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR OWN INNATE DESIRES, BUT RATHER THE TREADMILL OF PRODUCTION ON WHICH THEY ARE PLACED THAT HAS BECOME THE MAIN ENEMY OF THE ENVIRONMENT. IT THEN ARGUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO RESIST THE TREADMILL OF PRODUCTION AND THAT THIS RESISTANCE MUST TAKE THE FORM OF A FAR-REACHING MORAL REVOLUTION.