Safeguarding Our Common Future: Rethinking Sustainable Development (Environ Architect Phen

by Ingrid Leman Stefanovic

This book examines how a phenomenological approach helps move us closer toward safeguarding our common future by evolving a more originative and informed way of thinking about the foundations of sustainable development. Phenomenology, as conceived by Heidegger, enlarges and deepens our ways of thinking about sustainable development and offers a unique methodology of environmental policy development and planning.

"There is no topic more important to the task of leaving to our descendents a fit natural environment than that of sustainable development. This book deals usefully, originally, and importantly with this issue, and it should be read by anyone undertaking to think seriously about how to provide our progeny with a world they can receive as a blessing rather than a curse." -- Bruce V. Foltz, author of Inhabiting the Heidegger, Environmental Ethics, and the Metaphysics of Nature

"This book shows the relevance of the phenomenological tradition of philosophy to contemporary cultural concerns, with particular reference to questions surrounding environmental ethics and sustainable development. Books such as this, which strive to bridge disciplinary boundaries, are critical to the future of philosophy." -- Robert Frodeman, author of Earth The Earth Sciences, Philosophy, and the Claims of Community

"The first wave of enthusiasm for sustainability is over, and we are well into the second with debunking of the approach. With this comes both a loss of public and scholarly interest and the need for more careful thinking--with very little of the latter actually appearing on the scene. I believe this book will be one of the first to fit that bill." -- Robert Mugerauer, author of Interpretations on Behalf of Environmental Displacements and Alternative Responses

234 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

A prophet working for the higher purpose: "our common future". So people that work have to pay taxes so Stefanovic will get a nice job, a good home and a generous pension plan. It's for "our common future".

[Jan Höglund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ingrid Leman Stefanovic argues that our environmental actions will change only when we see our world in a different way. Our basic beliefs and value systems frame the very questions we ask in the first place. Stefanovic exposes taken-for-granted assumptions that condition our way of seeing the world and structure our ways of thinking. It is her hope that phenomenological reflections will help to expand our way of thinking and invite more discerning action. The aim of the philosophical analysis is to bring to the light the structure of our beliefs.