Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 3.12
Ultimate means and ultimate purposes of development. (Meadows
1999
, Redrawn by
Taniguchi
2012
)
from the base by the natural capital like solar energy, the biosphere, etc. Each step
is based on its own learning such as theology and ethics for the ultimate purpose,
political economy for the intermediate purpose, and science and technology for the
intermediate means. We are always aware of intermediate purpose and intermedi-
ate means when we consider development, and sometime forget the existence of
the ultimate purpose and ultimate means. I think these intermediate steps appeared
after the industrial revolution and became enormous thanks to science and technol-
ogy operating in the economy. However, it is essential to pursue well-being and to
treasure the natural capital, without getting stuck at the intermediate steps as is hap-
pening with the focus on indicators such as GDP.
This issue was also examined by Ernst Schumacher who proposed the thought of
“Buddhist Economics” and “Intermediate Technology” in a topic entitled “Small is
Beautiful”. During his stay in Burma (now Myanmar), Schumacher (
1973
) noticed
that people looked happier than English people in spite of their poor situation. His
explanation was that whereas the ordinary rule is that “utility is equal to the amount
of goods”, the rule in Burma appeared to be that “utility is equal to the amount of
goods divided by the scale of desire”. Thus, increased desire and increased goods
do not change utility; as we find when increased desire fuelled by skilful advertis-
ing does not lead to lasting satisfaction even when temporarily sated by a purchase.
Equally, the people of Burma in Schumacher's day had constrained their desire so
that even small amounts of goods still provided utility (happiness). Similar effects
may be seen in other not so rich countries such as Cuba.
Schumacher also pointed out systematic problems in modern economics and
technology. The first is: technology does not possess the virtues of self-balanc-
ing, self-adjusting and self-cleansing; modern technology includes problems of
