Economia e natura

(Economy and Nature)

Abstract

“Economics” and “ecology” are disciplines that share the same etymological root. Despite this fact, however, they have followed very different lines of development. Economics has focused on human beings, and has ended up ignoring nature. Contrariwise, ecology has concentrated on the study of nature, ignoring human beings and society. This is clearly an unsatisfactory situation. Disciplines such as environmental economics or ecological economics have been introduced so as to remedy the situation. This essay explores the philosophical presuppositions of such endeavors. In particular, through the debate on the limits of development, it explores the various value presuppositions that have rendered the emergence of consensus
difficult.