Article: Commentary: industrial ecology – seen from a philosophical point of view. Its break with the Baconian programme Journal: Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal (PIE) 2006 Vol.3 No.1/2 pp.163 - 172 Abstract: Sustainable Development (SD), sometimes called a metafix, (Lele, 1991) signifies technology innovation as well as social progress and provides a framework for Industrial Ecology (IE). IE is a rather new approach with a modest theoretical tradition. Therefore, the following contribution presents some conceptual premises and the idea-historical background of IE. We argue that IE differs from the old Baconian programme, one of the starting points for the industrial revolution, e.g., in the principle that technology has its limitations and can not replace the biosphere. In practice this means, among others, to minimise the use of resources by closing materials cycles and to minimise harmful impact to the environment through proper Design for the Environment. IE provides an opportunity for sustainable ways of production and consumption. The concept should, however, not be limited to physical and technological phenomena, but it must comprise an ethical approach to nature. The following paper attempts to illustrate this possibility as well. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Commentary: industrial ecology – seen from a philosophical point of view. Its break with the Baconian programme

Authors: Dominique Bourg, Martina Keitsch

Addresses: Centre for Research and Interdisciplinary Studies on Sustainable Development, 12 rue Marie Curie, F-10000 Troyes, France. Troyes University of Technology, France ' Department of Product Design, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, No 7491 Trondheim, Norway

Abstract: Sustainable Development (SD), sometimes called a metafix, (Lele, 1991) signifies technology innovation as well as social progress and provides a framework for Industrial Ecology (IE). IE is a rather new approach with a modest theoretical tradition. Therefore, the following contribution presents some conceptual premises and the idea-historical background of IE. We argue that IE differs from the old Baconian programme, one of the starting points for the industrial revolution, e.g., in the principle that technology has its limitations and can not replace the biosphere. In practice this means, among others, to minimise the use of resources by closing materials cycles and to minimise harmful impact to the environment through proper Design for the Environment. IE provides an opportunity for sustainable ways of production and consumption. The concept should, however, not be limited to physical and technological phenomena, but it must comprise an ethical approach to nature. The following paper attempts to illustrate this possibility as well.

Keywords: technology development; historical development; technology optimism; ecosystems; technological innovation; artificialisation; nature; nature|s retreat; interdependence; socio-technological systems; natural systems; sustainability ethics; sustainable development; industrial ecology; design for environment; DFE; environmental impact.

DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2006.010047

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2006 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.163 - 172

Published online: 09 Jun 2006 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article

Title: Commentary: industrial ecology – seen from a philosophical point of view. Its break with the Baconian programme

Keep up-to-date