Department of Economics
Date of this Version
June 1993
Abstract
Discussions regarding ecological crises often begin by casually identifying anthropocentric traits as responsible for the crises and by briefly explaining the need for holistic or macroscopic modeling. Yet, when modeling begins, policy scientists, philosophers, and social scientists usually are not included, and the models often are not ecological, but are rather narrowly biological or physical. The main purpose of this paper is to emphasize the need for broader and richer modeling and the need to recognize that environmental protection and enhancement is anthropocentric policymaking. The question is not whether it will be anthropocentric, but which anthropocentric values, beliefs, and philosophies will guide the policymaking paradigms and analytical techniques.
Comments
Published by Journal of Economic Issues Vol. XXVII, No.2, June 1993. Copyright © 1993 Journal of Economic Issues. Used by Permission.