A Critical and Realist Approach to Ecological Economics

Puller, Armin; Smith, Tone

doi:10.4324/9781315679747-3

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…This presentation reveals an ongoing tendency within the field of consumption research to draw divisive dichotomies-structure vs. agency, determinism vs. voluntarism, social vs. individual-that compete to provide 'the' single dominant explanation for consumer behaviour. An alternative would be to take a dialectical approach consistent with critical realism (Puller and Smith, 2017). In noting future directions, and consistent with this suggestion, we highlight the importance of connecting understanding of individuals as social agents with the institutions and social structures within which they operate.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…A better understanding of the determinants of (un)sustainable consumption practices would be provided by an analytical (dialectical) dualism connecting social agents and society-duality of structure and praxis (Puller and Smith, 2017). This means that the specific set of institutional arrangements within which humans operate, and try to find meaning in their lives, become even more important, both as causes of empowerment and constraint.…”

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Theories of (Un)Sustainable Consumption

Spash¹,

Dobernig²

2017

Routledge Handbook of Ecological Economics

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In this discussion paper we review and contrast alternative theories of consumption in terms of the intellectual basis they provide for understanding sustainable behaviours. A defining aspect of the modern literature in this field is the emphasis on the individual as a volitional agent who engages wilfully in the decision to consume. This is in stark contrast to earlier literature that concentrated on the structural lock-in of individuals to undesirable consumption patterns and the powers of corporations in creating consumer demand for their products and services. We argue that, in order to unravel consumption in its full complexity, and as a matter of utmost importance, understanding must include both the buy-in of individual agents, whose consumption activities contribute to their self-identity, and the structure imposed by the institutions of society, that frame the context of actors' decisions. More than this, any move away from the current unsustainable consumption patterns prevalent in modern societies requires a richer conceptualisation of consumption that involves an awareness and examination of the political economy in which humans live.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 60%

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theories of (Un)Sustainable Consumption

Spash¹,

Dobernig²

2017

Routledge Handbook of Ecological Economics

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“…As Collier (1998: 446) argues, scientific explanation of social institutions is a precondition of criticising and changing them, but sometimes entails beginning the work of their subversion. There is emancipatory potential arising from revealing the practices and beliefs that reproduce unsustainable and unjust social relations (Puller and Smith, 2017: 18). That places a responsibility on the researcher to do something about reforming problematic social structures and belief systems, but also their own behaviour.…”

Section: Social Ecological Transformation and The Individualmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring economic dimensions of social ecological crises: A reply to special issue papers

Spash

2024

Environmental Values

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In this paper I consider various shifts in my research and understanding stimulated by seeking how to combat social ecological crises connected to modern economies. The discussion and critical reflections are structured around five papers that were submitted to Environmental Values in an open call to address my work. A common aspect is the move away from neoclassical environmental economics, and its reductionist monetary valuation, to a more realist theory and multiple methods. This relates to my work on environmental ethics, plural values, stated preference validity and deliberative monetary valuation. Expanding beyond the narrow confines of mainstream orthodoxy has involved exploring a range of other disciplines (e.g. applied philosophy, social psychology, human geography, political science, social anthropology, history of thought and philosophy of science) and learning from this literature to rethink economics and develop social ecological economics. A broad range of subjects are covered here, including: personal responsibility, social practice, psychology of the individual, participatory processes, value (intrinsic, instrumental and relational), Nature–society relationships and interdependencies, critical realism and the conduct of unifying interdisciplinary science. I end with a series of comments concerning the failings of orthodox economics and the conduct of scientific research for social ecological transformation.

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A Critical and Realist Approach to Ecological Economics

Cited by 2 publications

References 1 publication

Theories of (Un)Sustainable Consumption

Theories of (Un)Sustainable Consumption

Exploring economic dimensions of social ecological crises: A reply to special issue papers

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