Search

Abstract: To answer the question “How to be an Ecological Economist”, we must start by defining the field of Ecological Economics. Mainstream Economics altogether lacks the concepts required to deal adequately with nature, justice and time. It was the absence of these three concepts in this otherwise great social science that led to the establishment of Ecological Economics. The interest in nature, justice and time is its defining characteristic. The main thesis of this paper is that our field is a fragile institution and that the professional existence of an ecological economist is no less fragile. However, this very fragility also represents freedom, scope for free thinking, conceptualising and research. Nevertheless, to be able to really use and in turn enjoy the full scope of this freedom, an ecological economist needs certain specific characteristics, in particular what is termed in the German philosophical tradition “Urteilskraft” and in English “power of judgement”. A description of these characteristics is developed in this paper, providing an answer to the question “How to be an ecological economist?” [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Time in modem economics is treated either as money or as a resource. Time is scarce and as such it is economically rational to save it. The economic approach to time ensures the acceleration of economic processes. This in turn damages the reproductive cycles of social life and the natural environment. This paper argues that a future sustainable economy must be based on a new understanding of time. It must care for and protect socio-environmental needs for more lime, for time cycles and for rhythms. The development of such a 'new economy of time' requires a broader concept of economic rationality. With this goal in mind, the traditional economic approaches to time are criticized and five aspects of a 'new' economy of time discussed. Finally, the question of the constructors of the 'new economy of time' is raised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]