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The OTHER Economic Summit, TOES - 90, Houston, July 6 - 8, 1990
Ecological Sustainability
Second of four workshops on
"A Systems of Knowledge Approach to Sustainable Development"
An uncontained episteme exacerbates environmental problems by creating an illusion that the environment can be managed by a careful calculation of the benefits and costs of alternative courses of action. We think it is a mistake to understand ecology in this way, as a branch of episteme. We see ecology as belonging to the realm of techne: the overwhelming uncertainty and ignorance in which we must act makes a mockery of epistemic calculation and requires instead a techne of prudence and caution. We intend to explore this theme in particular contexts, such as sustainable agriculture.
Organizers:
- Stephen Marglin, Economics, Harvard University.
- Frédérique Apffel Marglin, Anthropology, Smith College.
Speakers:
- Wolfgang Sachs, Institute for Cultural Studies, Hagnammgarten 5, 4300 Essen 15, Germany.
- Shiv Visvanathan, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, 29 Rajpur Road, Delhi 110 054, India; Tel: 231190, 2517131; 2523930, 2919377 (UN University Programme Office) 6430901 (Residence, O.P. Garkhel, Administrative Officer).
- Gustavo Esteva, COPIDER (Committee for Promoting Research and Rural Development in Mexico) and ANADEGES, Oaxaca, Mexico.
See the Introduction to this series in the listing for the first workshop, "The Body Politic."
Go to TOES '90 Program
Go to TOES '97 Home Page