Ethics of large-scale change

Abstract

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 106(2): 131–144, 2006

The subject of this paper is long-term large-scale changes in human society. Some very significant examples of large-scale change are presented: human population growth, human appropriation of land and primary production, the human use of fossil fuels, and climate change. The question is posed, which kind of attitude is appropriate when dealing with large-scale changes like these from an ethical point of view. Three kinds of approaches are discussed: Aldo Leopold's mountain thinking, the neoclassical economists' approach, and finally the so-called Concentric Circle Theories approach. It is argued that the last of these three approaches must be preferred, even though further interpretation will be needed in relation to specific decision-making.

Keywords:

• Ethics
• large-scale changes
• population growth
• ecological footprint
• energy
• climate change
• fossil fuels
• thinking like a mountain
• cost-benefit analysis
• future generations
• equity
• justice
• Concentric Circle Theory
• complex equality