Sustainable Development Goals: kinds, connections and expectations

Abstract

We point out the need to clarify some of the ideas related to the connection between development and sustainability in the Report of the Open Working Group of the General Assembly on Sustainable Development. In particular, the meaning of ‘sustainable’ is not clear when applied to specific areas of human activity. A more detailed explanation of the kind of equality sought for in the proposal is also needed. Because of potential conflicts between goals, we miss some considerations on the impact of population increase both on development and on sustainability. A distinction is made here between two kinds of goals included in the Report. Some of the proposed 17 goals can then be seen as ends in themselves, whereas others seem to be means for the first set. The two sets thereby established should be seen in theory and dealt with in practice in a differentiated manner.

Keywords:

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Millennium Development Goals
• sustainability
• development
• equality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Luis Camacho holds a Ph.D. (Philosophy), Catholic University of America (Washington DC) 1973. Professor emeritus at the School of Philosophy, University of Costa Rica. President, Costa Rican Philosophical Association. Member of International Development Ethics Association (IDEA) and Asociación Latinoamericana de Filosofía Analítica (ALFAn). He is author of several books and many articles in Spanish and English on logic, philosophy and history of science and ethics of development. Latest book: La ciencia en su historia (Costa Rica, EUNED, 2013). Soon to appear: Die Logik des Aristoteles bei Leibniz: Der lange Weg von der Grammatik bis Inferenztheorie in a volume on Aristotle's influence on Leibniz.