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Re: Economists on ecology (Re: GOODBY MIKE!)



In article <E13A50.Lu0@planet.mh.dpi.qld.gov.au>,
antonyg@planet.mh.dpi.qld.gov.au (George Antony Ph 93818) wrote:

>  While it is very difficult to predict the change
> in human societies, the only certainty is that they will not stay static. 
> 
> Hence, restricting the definition of human carrying capacity to biological
> rules and to the socio-economic status quo is fundamentally flawed.  In
> case you are not clear on that, this is what you and the unthinking types
> of 'ecologists' are guilty of.  It is fortunate that there are ecologists
> who think in terms of the total physical-biological-SOCIAL system.
> 
> You are, of course, perfectly right if you can think as far as calling
> social scientists anthropocentric: this is a basic tool of the trade.
> 
> 
> George Antony

   Speaking as a Ph. D. candidate in anthropology, I would suggest that
this is not a basic tool of the trade.  There is a long tradition of
ecological anthropology which examines the RELTIONSHIP between humans and
their ecological habitats, but which is anything but anthropocentric.  In
fact, many of the writings by ecological anthropologists remind one of the
writings of deep ecologists, ecofeminists, or social ecologists.
   Thus, while I agree that it is fortunate that there are social
scientists, and ecologists, who think holistically, in terms of the total
ecological, social, IDEOLOGICAL system--such as us anthros--it seems clear
that economics is not such an undertaking.

------------------------------Regards--------------------------------
Roy C. Dudgeon <umdudgeo@cc.umanitoba.ca>
---------------------------------------------------------------------
  A THING IS RIGHT WHEN IT TENDS TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY, STABILITY
AND BEAUTY OF THE BIOTIC COMMUNITY.  IT IS WRONG WHEN IT TENDS OTHER-
WISE.
                                --ALDO LEOPOLD, "THE LAND ETHIC".                  ---------------------------------------------------------------------


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