Sustainability: Ethical Perspectives

According to Aristotle economics can be categorized either as Politics, Technology or Ethics. Regardless which philosophical approach one chooses, however, economics is basically about pursuing conceptions of good life, about managing life and life situations. “Economics” is linked to running an “oikos”, a household – household economics can be considered a central reference point for any kind of management structure. Household economics demand that a household be set up, maintained and if necessary extended and should be a place providing the structure and framework needed for a ‘good’ life. The household itself is not the ‘good’ life, it provides the favourable conditions – environment – in which a good life can take root and develop. Central to good management and good development are a sense of care, permanence and persistence, moderation, regularity and a sense of neighbourliness. One vital aspect which should not be overlooked here is that the house and its household is not created by some ‘invisible hand’ but is the product of human making: a structure built on, via and enabling human existence.