2 Addressing the environmental crisis
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Clive L. Spash
Abstract
Adopting an orthodox mainstream paradigmatic perspective, in part or whole, has serious implications for the conduct and relevance of economic science. This chapter aims to clarify the divisions in economics between orthodoxy and heterodoxy, and to show how this has impacted understanding of the environmental crisis. The concept of orthodox - as opposed to radical - dissent is introduced, and the meaning of paradigmatic conformity is outlined. The chapter argues that the fight for a paradigm shift in economics is undercut by such conformity and pragmatism. What constitutes heterodox thought on the environment is critically reviewed in terms four economic schools: Marxist/socialist, institutionalist, feminist and Post Keynesian. The chapter reveals the paradigmatic and ideological struggle in which heterodoxy in general is engaged and how this plays out with respect to ecological economics in particular.
Abstract
Adopting an orthodox mainstream paradigmatic perspective, in part or whole, has serious implications for the conduct and relevance of economic science. This chapter aims to clarify the divisions in economics between orthodoxy and heterodoxy, and to show how this has impacted understanding of the environmental crisis. The concept of orthodox - as opposed to radical - dissent is introduced, and the meaning of paradigmatic conformity is outlined. The chapter argues that the fight for a paradigm shift in economics is undercut by such conformity and pragmatism. What constitutes heterodox thought on the environment is critically reviewed in terms four economic schools: Marxist/socialist, institutionalist, feminist and Post Keynesian. The chapter reveals the paradigmatic and ideological struggle in which heterodoxy in general is engaged and how this plays out with respect to ecological economics in particular.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vi
- Preface vii
- I Radical foundations 1
- 1 Historical foundations and foundational conflicts 3
- 2 Addressing the environmental crisis 19
- II Philosophical foundations 57
- 3 Issues in history and philosophy of science with implications for economics 59
- 4 The philosophical basis for advancing knowledge in ecological economics 73
- 5 Revolutionary transformative science 99
- III Social ecological economic foundations 113
- 6 Reorienting to social ecological economics 115
- 7 Integration of social, ecological and economic knowledge 141
- 8 Clarifying division and seeking unity 164
- 9 An alternative economics for alternative economies 197
- References 220
- Index 251
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vi
- Preface vii
- I Radical foundations 1
- 1 Historical foundations and foundational conflicts 3
- 2 Addressing the environmental crisis 19
- II Philosophical foundations 57
- 3 Issues in history and philosophy of science with implications for economics 59
- 4 The philosophical basis for advancing knowledge in ecological economics 73
- 5 Revolutionary transformative science 99
- III Social ecological economic foundations 113
- 6 Reorienting to social ecological economics 115
- 7 Integration of social, ecological and economic knowledge 141
- 8 Clarifying division and seeking unity 164
- 9 An alternative economics for alternative economies 197
- References 220
- Index 251
