ecolabs

Epistemological Error and Converging Crises
A whole systems view


ABSTRACT:
Gregory Bateson said that we are ‘governed by epistemologies that we know to be wrong’ back in 1972. In the same book Bateson wrote: 'the organism that destroys its environment destroys itself.’ Almost forty years later global ecological systems are in steep decline and converging crises make a deep evaluation of the underlying premises of our philosophical traditions an urgent imperative. This paper will suggest that the roots of the economic crisis are epistemological and that to correct this error whole systems thinking and ecological literacy will become increasing important in business management as well as in other disciplines. It will also suggest that the economic crisis opened new political space and has provided an opportunity for intervention. If we are brave enough to examine of the roots of our problems there is possibility for renewal.

A philosophy for management must reflect transdisciplinary knowledge to stay relevant and capable of adapting to current conditions. The economics crisis of 2007-2009 needs to be understood as feedback from a system that has lost its capacity to understand and manage its own processes. Our failure to think in terms of whole systems and to recognize the ecological basis for prosperity is a consequence of a particular reductive worldview. Management practice must expand the scope of its inquiry to gain insight. This paper will suggest that the roots of the economic crisis are epistemological and that to correct this error ecological literacy will become increasing important in the practice of business management. Ecological stability is necessary for material well-being and economic stability but current management and business practices do not reflect what we know about complex systems or environmental science. Business models follow abstract economic theory based on mechanistic thought but ignore ecology, the basis on which wealth is created. The current trajectory of economic growth creates strains on the ecological system, which in turn weakens our capacity to create economic security. These stresses can only lead to deepening crises within economic and ecological systems, and while economic collapse is painful - ecological collapse is terminal. To avoid this dire scenario, we need to recognize that feedback from the economic system will be significantly faster than feedback from the ecological system, which has evolved over a period of millions of years and has significant inbuilt buffers. 

Reduce Carbon Emissions by 10% in 2010 at your University
Ten Steps Checklist PDF download here

1. Create your carbon reduction team. Identify and connect with a committed, passionate, and multifaceted team who will make it happen. Include academics, lecturers, staff, management, estates and students alike. There should be no rank, or distinction between these parties, but rather, each individual should be a stakeholder on a collective mission to succeed.
 
2. Set your first meeting. Agree at the meeting how you will establish the appropriate permissions, and carry out the carbon monitoring. Agree also on how often you will meet to feed back how you are getting on. Remember to aim for at least 10% reductions in carbon emission across each of the four categories: grid electric, on-site fossil fuel use, vehicle fuel use, and air travel. Create working groups for each of the energy categories.
 
3. Research methods for monitoring energy use at the university. Do not wait until you have the perfect method but start the process and work towards creating a more rigorous methodology as the project evolves. How will you establish systems to monitor all energy use? Electricity is the easiest area to monitor as it should be straightforward to check the meters.

READ THE REST OF THE 10 POINT CHECKLIST HERE.

By EcoLabs, T4Sustainability and Inheritable Futures Laboratory 

EcoMag is a magazine about art, design & sustainability. Each issue will focus on a theme while investigating issues lying at the root of the ecological crisis. The theme of the first issue is ‘Future Scenarios’. We are indebted to the authors: Mark Lynas, David Holmgren and Herman Daly for granting us permission to borrow freely and providing inspiration for the artists and designers who turned this work into pictures. EcoMag No.1 is available as a low resolution Pdf download here, a higher quality pdf is now available here (15M). References and mail order please see here.