Library

Scientific paper • 2014

Environmental philosophy

Abstract: The central point of this paper is to stress how much our vision of man and of his rule in the world can influence our behavior towards nature (and also towards other men, but this problem is not discussed here). Here are analysed three philosophies: dominion, which is linked to growth, coordination, linked to sustainable development and cooperation, linked to degrowth philosophy....

Scientific paper • 2014

Value and Values: The Political Economy of ICT Enhanced Collective Behaviour for Sustainable Degrowth

By: Robert Rattle

collective behaviour, values, sustainability, Internet and communication technologies

Scientific paper • 2014

Where do all the hours go? Time use, resource consumption and the dematerialisation of everyday practices

By: Henrike Rau

Abstract: The emergence of carbon-intensive systems of production, distribution and consumption as part of the modernisation process in Europe and beyond coincided with fundamental changes in how people view and use time. Predictions by advocates of modern time management that time-saving technologies will radically reduce working hours and enhance people’s quality of life did not materialise,...

Scientific paper • 2014

The Advantages of a Community Currency – An OCA Perspective

By: Carolin Rauch

Abstract: There is an ongoing debate about the advantages and disadvantages of community currencies in the literature. Proponents of a local currency outline the economic, social and ecological benefits. However, empirical studies find mainly social networking effects and almost no economic influence. It seems that the economic advantage of community currencies does not prevail (at least at...

Scientific paper • 2014

How degrowth can improve life quality: Using NonViolent Communication

By: Felix Rauschmayer

sustainability transition, needs, NonViolent Communication, sustainable lifestyles, quality of life

Scientific paper • 2014

Socio-cybernetics and Degrowth

By: John Raven

Abstract: Research conducted by the author and others, but especially Murray Bookchin, shows that hardly any of the endless demonstrations of the desirability, possibility, and viability of more “organic”, more sustainable, more “degrowth-oriented”, ways of doing things have survived. Even more seriously, research conducted by the author and his colleagues over the past half century shows that...

Scientific paper • 2014

Creating ruptures in actual representations to support the design of sufficient and convivial way of lives

By: Marion Real, Benjamin Tyl, Iban Lizarralde

strong sustainability, user behaviors, eco-ideation, learning and open environments

Scientific paper • 2014

Technology as system: towards an autopoietic theory of technology

By: André Reichel

system theory; technology; co-evolution; sustainability

Scientific paper • 2014

Grassroots Innovation For Sustainability: The Diffusion of Community Supported Agriculture in Germany

By: Kristin Reiß

Abstract: Over the last few years niches got more and more discussed as initial point for societal change. But approaches like Strategic Niche Management (SNM) are critisised for its focus on technological niches and its idea of a „top-down-management“, whereby radical alterations in fact is more often initiated by non-governmental groups and parts of civil society. This work attaches itself to...

Scientific paper • 2014

The threat of (not) being exploited: How inequality promotes growth dispositions

By: Tilman Reitz, Tine Haubner

Abstract: In discussions about the main growth drivers in our societies, two explanations often collide: a cultural account of growth dispositions and an economic account of capitalist growth imperatives. The planned contribution aims at bridging the gap between these accounts. Its central idea is that flexible global capitalism increasingly binds exploitation to the relative weakness and...

Scientific paper • 2014

Starting to Move on Campus: Connected Activities to join Forces

By: Gilles Renout

Abstract: The key ideas of "ActivCampus" are the following: a) It picks up two sorts of CRISIS many members of the University are suffering from: First, a leak of "sense" in what, why and how they are doing their work and how the University is organizing the cooperation between individuals and groups. Secondly, corporeal diseases and imbalances due to working structures that are not healthy for...

Scientific paper • 2014

The Knowledge Economy: Key to Sustainable Development?

By: Lukáš Režný, James Buchanan White

Knowledge economy, Sustainability, Economic growth, Nonrenewable natural resources consumption, Peak oil

Scientific paper • 2014

Learning for and in a Degrowing Society

By: Christiane Richard-Elsner

Learning, own experiences, neurobiology, neighbourhood

Scientific paper • 2014

The Role of Children in a Degrowing Society

By: Christiane Richard-Elsner

Children Play Urban planning Autonomy

Scientific paper • 2014

Theoretical considerations on growth imperatives in a monetary economy

By: Oliver Richters, Ferdin, Wenzlaff, Christian Kimmich

Abstract: If an ongoing growth is considered impossible or undesirable, the growth dependence of man-made structures such as social security systems have to be carefully revised. In the post-growth debate, the monetary system based on credit money combined with positive interest rates is often criticized and accused of causing a growth imperative. The contribution refutes this oversimplified...

Scientific paper • 2014

Designing an energy scarce world – Transition Engineering

By: Oliver Richters, Susan Krumdieck

Abstract: History of society is strongly influenced by the energy supply available and energy is an important economic production factor. It's coupled with extraction of natural ressources and the emission of pollutant particles and heat, surpassing the ability for regeneration of our ecosystems. Society has to face the question how to reduce energy demand. Transition engineering offers a...

Scientific paper • 2014

Beyond Growth: Shrinking Cities as a Model for Post-Growth Societies?

By: Dieter Rink, Annegret Haase, Sigrun Kabisch, Katrin Großmann

Abstract: Shrinking cities have spread out on all continents since the end of the last century and have become a normal type of urban development. For the post-growth perspective the question is being asked, and if yes, what can be learned from nowadays shrinking cities for the urban development in the future? One can observe that the biggest number of shrinking cities try to pursue growth...

Scientific paper • 2014

Controversies in Environmental and Post-Growth Discourses: Mapping positions to investigate their consequences for the development of indicators for a socio-ecological transformation

By: Dorothee Rodenhäuser

Abstract: The debate on the environment and the negative effects of economic growth has been shaped by controversies revolving around issues such as the substitutability of natural resources or the role of technology and work in a “green” economy. Depending on their respective points of view, the disputants reach very different conclusions on possible pathways towards a socially and...

Scientific paper • 2014

The National Welfare Index as a potential instrument for the transition towards a Degrowth society?

By: Hans Diefenbacher, Dorothee Rodenhäuser

Abstract: The debate on indicators ‚beyond GDP’ has considerably regained momentum in the last years. However, a majority of current indicator proposals rather seeks to complement traditional economic indicators in order to support “green” growth. Very few are directed to support a degrowth strategy, while a significant share of proposals remains ambiguous about growth. The National Welfare...

Scientific paper • 2014

The form of degrowth

By: Onofrio Romano

Abstract: The ecological and social crises, standing at the origins of the political engagement for degrowth, are not the outcome of execrable “values” but mainly of the “horizontal” form adopted by growth regime. Horizontalism is founded on a clear separation between “functions” and “values”: the social pattern is not aimed to the implementation of specific values or ideas of justice. The...