Why is sustainability in capitalism a utopia?
We live in a hypocritical society that fakes feelings and beliefs that it doesn’t really have.
Global warming is not a cliché!
The movement that humanity makes searching the development does not include other species. At least not in the current format. Extraction of natural resources, air pollution, water pollution, land pollution, extinction of species, all these are the actions of homo sapiens.
To counteract this irresponsible behavior, there is a movement that counts with governments, companies, organizations and people mobilized to seek alternatives for sustainable development.
Okay, but is it possible to be sustainable in a capitalist world?
The answer is NO!
What do you mean, Lucas?
Calm down, I’ll explain. But first we have to go down a chronological path to understand how we got here.
Natural Selection
In 1859 the English scientist Charles Darwin published “On the origin of species through natural selection”, the story of the creation of the world proposed by him was best-seller and is still recognized as the basis for the Theory of Evolution.
Some aspects of this theory:
- limited availability of resources makes individuals in a population compete, directly and indirectly, for these resources and for survival;
- those that survive can reproduce and develop their characteristics in a heritable way;
- this process, called natural selection, results in the adaptation of certain individuals to the environment and also the emergence of new species;
- natural selection is very similar to artificial selection, except that artificial selection comes solely and exclusively from the human species on a given organism.
Survival Law
Survival of the fittest is a concept applied by the English philosopher and biologist Herbert Spencer, in his book “Principles of Sociology”, which talks about the competition for survival. Living beings are in this constant battle through ecological relationships, each one in its chain, competing for food, habitat and reproduction. For this, organisms use various strategies to be victorious in this dispute, multiplying their descendants to perpetuate their species.
In this frenzied competition, some species became extinct and others became stronger and stronger. Humanity has gone through countless wars, pestilences, disasters and revolutions, until it mastered technologies that contribute to the perpetuation of its descendants, but at the same time it is also slowly destroying itself.
Naturalistic Intelligence
Around the 1980s, at Harvard University, a study led by the North American psychologist Howard Gardner was developed, which was called “The Theory of Multiple Intelligences”. In this theory, scholars claimed that intelligence could not be measured by psychometric tests, since we have different cognitive abilities.
Therefore, they described 9 different intelligences:
- Mathematical logic;
- Linguistics;
- Musical;
- Space;
- Body-kinesthetic;
- Intrapersonal;
- Interpersonal;
- Existential;
- Naturalist.
Naturalistic intelligence represents the sensitivity to identify and organize patterns and phenomena in nature. It is noticed in people who are able to identify species, understand natural phenomena and the variety of the environment.
The main characteristics observed in people who have this well-honed intelligence:
- they have very strong feelings for everything connected with nature;
- they feel attracted to the natural and have a great sensitivity to natural phenomena;
- they are deeply interested in issues related to culture, science and the environment;
- feel a great connection with elements of nature and easily detect their patterns;
- feel an interest in human and/or animal behavior;
- know different species of fauna and flora;
- are interested in natural sciences.
This type of intelligence is directly linked to natural activities and being connected with the environment. In a way, it connects us to our ancestral origins. The more “animalized” society is, the more connected with other species; the more “humanized” it is, the more individual it is compared to other species.
With the advancement of technology, human beings have lost (or developed less and less) the ability to understand natural phenomena, and with this environmental awareness ends up being harmed. For example, in the past, to get from one place to another, you need to know the direction, know how to orient yourself in space and have a way to move. Nowadays I solve all these problems with my cell phone. Our ancestors moved using solar and lunar orientation, through the stars; they knew the time of year from the weather. Today we solved all this with a mobile.
But it’s not the technology’s fault, it’s our culture!
Capitalist Culture
Capitalism is an economic ideology based on private ownership of the means of production and their operations for profit. The central features include, in addition to private property, capital accumulation, wage labor, voluntary exchange, a price system and competitive markets.
The evolution of the world economic system has gone through different forms, different historical moments, directly influenced by the behavior of society, culturally and intellectually. The development of capitalist societies is characterized by social relations based on money, a large class of salaried workers being the majority and a strictly restricted class, dominant in wealth and political power.
Capitalism is criticized by some people, splitting opinions, because of the establishment of a minority class that exploits a majority working class. Furthermore, capitalist systems around the world have different degrees of direct government intervention.
Those who defend the system say that competition provides better products and services, generating consistent economic growth, benefiting society in general, in addition to being the most efficient system for allocating resources.
Consumer Culture
Consumption is an economic activity consisting in the use, destruction or acquisition of goods or services. It can be done by families, companies or other economic agents, becoming consumers.
Consumerism is a lifestyle guided by a strong propensity to consume goods and services, generally superfluous, to satisfy symbolic meanings- pleasure, success, happiness. The term can be associated with mass culture and the cultural industry. It is also described as a seemingly rational and confusing form of economic behavior. According to the American sociologist and economist Thorstein Veblen, this unnecessary consumption is a form of status display.
Consumption and consumerism are different things. In consumption, people acquire what they need; consumerism is characterized by excessive spending on superfluous products. One represents the act (of consuming), and the other the act in excess. Excess consumption can become a compulsion, linked to the individual’s behavior.
Currently, we observe this behavior directly linked to the economic model we live in, capitalism, favoring unbridled buying in exchange for market development.
Development, Globalization and Technology
The concept of human development has its origins in classical thought, Aristotle believed that achieving the full flowering of human capacities is the meaning and end of all development. This concept is linked in parallel to the concept of economic development, since both consider aspects related to the economy, but how far is this positive for Planet Earth?
Human development is the process where a society improves the lives of its citizens by increasing the goods with which they can satisfy the basic and complementary needs of all.
The problem is that the line between basic and complementary needs is very blurred, and with the development of technology it makes the difference even more difficult, since many basic needs present were complementary needs in the past.
Globalization is an international process of economic, social, cultural and political integration and technology is its main ally. The information revolution, driven by technological development, has drastically changed the way modern society interacts, and naturally, the way it consumes.
The more connected world brings nations together, reduces differences and works on the sense of community, in theory. With 7.5 billion people living on Earth the challenge of aligning all thoughts is enormous. With cultural ties and very deep historical roots, it is very difficult to break these thoughts.
Based on all of this, I say that it is a utopia to be sustainable in a capitalist world. One that consuming resources is a necessity for survival, and naturally we have an impact because of that, and the other, more important, is that the system we live in is ancient and very present in human history.
Based on all of this, I say that it is a utopia to be sustainable in a capitalist world. One that consuming resources is a necessity for survival, and naturally we have an impact because of that, and the other, more important, is that the system we live in is ancient and very present in human history.
But there is a salvation!
“It is not necessary to overthrow the old system…but create a second system in which to flourish” Nelson Mandela
Ecological Revolution
It is possible to use this human driving force for sustainable development. Fighting to break the current model is wasted energy in vain, it makes no sense. But it is possible to create a parallel movement — conscious and sensitive — that thinks about community and constantly exercises empathy.
In fact, this is already happening gradually and silently. The new economies present an attractive alternative for the future, a new form of relationship between people and the environment.
Resilience is one of the main characteristics of the new era, whether in the job market or in everyday life. Humanity must constantly adapt to changes that are happening faster and faster, and in this process, the opportunity to create new paths arises.
The ecological revolution is one of the main characters of the new world, driven by connectivity and technology. Movements to encourage conscious consumption, local consumption and activities related to the preservation of natural resources are becoming increasingly present in the lifestyle of the world population.
Most people are aware of global issues, but not sensitive to them. We need sensitive leaders who inspire the broad masses, showing that change starts from the inside out. We also need a new mentality, demystifying old-fashioned concepts, breaking the beliefs that limit us and giving new meaning to our lifestyle.
It is a joint action that walks together towards a better future. Farmers working hand in hand with ecologists, understanding species dynamics better, not just wanting economic benefits. Smarter cities, using renewable energy and collaborating to preserve species. Eradicated hunger, as well as poverty, with sustainable alternatives and government actions inspiring other nations. Urban mobility congruent with the geography of each location, integrating cultures and connecting people.
Each citizen will deal with their solid waste as they deal with their social networks, they will understand that it is a resource and has value, allocating it correctly so that others can benefit. There will definitely be no more landfills, as that doesn’t make any sense, and more and more green technologies will handle these processes.
It is a complex revolution that needs a huge effort to succeed.
The first step is to change your thinking. The real change starts from the inside out, gaining strength with each movement.
Second, multiplying good things.
Kindness generates kindness.
We are the agents of change, we have the role to carry out this transition.
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
It is necessary to invest in education, as it is people who have the power to change the world, and only by educating them will we be able to create a new system that can flourish and achieve sustainable development.
Then yes, we can, in fact, be sustainable.
Do you think it is possible to be sustainable in a capitalist world?
Did you like the text and want to discuss more? So check out the @greenthinkingproject networks and let’s debate!