Sustainable Civilization

Western civilization has entered a new fundamental crisis that can be explained by a very one-sided orientation of social values based on materialism and egocentrism, which is disrupting the delicate balance between the opposing forces of 'mind' and 'matter', and of 'I' and 'the others'. Many sources – from the great works of philosophy, religion, art and culture to social surveys and the course of history – qualify sustainability as the dynamic equilibrium between fundamental opposing forces. This insight and the ethical ability to better discriminate between stabilizing and destabilizing forces would allow further justification of human rights and new institutional arrangements in society at large and, in particular, in politics, economy and finance. It would enable a sustainable civilization to flourish within the boundaries of freedom and human dignity.

Klaas van Egmond is Professor of Sustainability and Environment at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. Previously, he was Director of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment and of the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. He completed several studies on all aspects of environment and sustainability for the Dutch government, the EU and the UN.

PART I: WESTERN CIVILIZATION IN CRISIS
1.1. Economic Growth and Social Progress
1.2. The Ecological Crisis
1.3. Economy versus Ecology
1.4. Limits to Growth
1.5. The Financial Crisis – 'No One Saw This Coming'
1.6. The Socio Cultural Issue
1.7. Sustainability and the Quality of Life
1.8. Summary
PART II: HUMAN VALUE ORIENTATIONS; WORLD VIEWS
2.1. Social Surveys
2.2. Philosophical and Religious Notes
2.3. The Resulting World View
2.4. Summary
PART III: THE LABORATORY OF HISTORY
3.1. History Repeats Itself
3.2. Overshoot and Collapse of Value Orientations
3.3. Centrifugal Forces
3.4. The Power of Identity
3.5. Reversal of Ends and Means
3.6. What Will Happen Next?
3.7. Summary
PART IV: THE WEST AND THE EAST
5. The Message of Culture and Religion
5.1. Culture
5.2. Spirituality and Consciousness
5.3. Summary
PART V: SUSTAINABLE CIVILIZATION
6.1. Ethics
6.2. Human Dignity
6.3. Good, Truth and Beauty
6.4. Freedom and Free Will
6.5. Human Rights
6.6. Democracy and Social Responsibility
6.7. Summary
PART VII: AGENDA FOR A SUSTAINABLE CIVILIZATION
7.1. The Political Task; the Radical Centre
7.2. People, the Social Issue
7.3. Planet; the Environmental Issue
7.4. Profit; Economy and Finance
7.5. Summary
PART VIII: SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY
8.1. Economic Means to Social Ends
8.2. Ownership, Economical Scale and Dematerialization
8.3. Summary
PART IX: SUSTAINABLE FINANCE
9.1. Financial History
9.2. A New Financial System
9.3. Summary
PART X: THE NEXT STEP
10.1. Crisis
10.2. A New Form of Governance
10.3. Agenda
10.4. An End to the Caricature
10.5. Sustainable Civilization