Sufficiency and Sustainability: Conceptual Analysis and Ethical Considerations for Sustainable Organisation

Tommi Lehtonen and Pasi Heikkurinen

Environmental Values, 2022, vol. 31, issue 5, 599-618

Abstract: This article analyses the concept of sufficiency in relation to sustainability and discusses ethical implications for sustainable organisation in time and place. We identify three foundational conceptualisations of sufficiency related to sustainability: (1) a limits model that starts with objective boundaries imposed by the biosphere and basic human needs; (2) a preference model that treats sufficiency as a subjective inclination for moderation defined situationally; and (3) a balancing model that seeks to integrate the objective limits and subjective preferences by focussing on action embedded in the socio-ecological context. This includes balancing the needs of humans with those of non-humans. The limits model builds on universal duty, the preference model on preference utilitarianism and the balancing model on action-oriented virtue ethics. The balancing model of sufficiency is well suited to meeting the needs of present and future generations as well as delivering intra- and inter-generational justice not limited to humans.

Keywords: Ethics; justice; sufficiency; sustainability; virtue (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envval:v:31:y:2022:i:5:p:599-618

DOI: 10.3197/096327121X16328186623878

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