Social systems as a whole should be included in AoP of social LCA

Les systèmes sociaux devraient être considérés comme sujets à protéger en ACV [Analyse du Cycle de Vie]

Alain Falque
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Alain Falque: Marchés, Organisations, Institutions et Stratégies d'Acteurs - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier, Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier

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Abstract: The scope of the paper is theoretical. It aims to redesign the area of protection -AoP- for Social LCA. Following Weidema (2006), Reitinger (2011) proposed to characterize well-being in terms of Sen's capabilities. After them, we take the capabilities as one from two components of the AoP. We believe that we should not limit ourselves to the protection of the individual capabilities only. We should also include social systems as a whole in AoP. We argue that social systems themselves provide support to individual capabilities similar to that ecosystems provide to human activities. But, while ecosystem services profited from a real publicity because of millenium assessment, services provided to individuals by social systems remain largely unknown, forgotten or even denied. We highlight that the existence of such a relationship has yet been demonstrated. We especially refer to Mead (1934), Simondon (1989), or Berque (2001). We note further that, like ecosystems, social systems are vulnerable. Emblematic examples run from the decline -may be reversible–of social ties documented by Putnam (1995) to the -probably irreversible -collapse of the Iks'society studied by Turnbull (1972). Social systems can therefore be considered as assets under the precautionary principle. To date, these systems have been conceptualized as social capital by Putnam or as social cohesion by the European Union. Moreover, we suggest to take advantage from the potential ot the Philia of Aristotle or the decent society of Margalit (1996).

Date: 2013-05-06
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Published in 3. International seminar on social LCA, Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche sur le Cycle de Vie des Produits, Procédés et Services (CIRAIG). Montréal, CAN., May 2013, Montréal, Canada. 18 p. [powerpoint]

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02805477

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