Spaceship Earth. A total institution

Steffen Roth

Ecological Economics, 2024, vol. 223, issue C

Abstract: The concept of Earth as a planetary spaceship serves as a root metaphor of ecological economics, sustainability science, and the broader environmental movement. This article first explores the origins of this metaphor and elucidates the core components and functions of a hypothetical Spaceship Earth. It then draws on Erving Goffman's characteristics of total institutions to show that such a spaceship would epitomise the most total institution ever known in human history. Acknowledging the continued influence of spaceship thinking, the article concludes by offering first hints to emergency exits from a planetary total institution with no mission other than orbiting another celestial body.

Keywords: Escape room; Circular economy; Planetary health; Austerity; Second copernican revolution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:223:y:2024:i:c:s092180092400140x

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108243

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