Ecosociocentrism: The Earth First Paradigm for Sustainable Living

Foreword
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgment
Introduction
Contents
About the Author
Chapter 1: Ecological Variables and Emerging Concepts in Ecology
	1.1 Fundamental Ecological Variables
		1.1.1 Matter
			1.1.1.1 The Law of Tolerance
			1.1.1.2 The Law of Minimum
			1.1.1.3 The Law of Conservation of Matter
	1.2 Energy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics
		1.2.1 The Principle of Conservation of Energy
		1.2.2 The Principle of Degradation of Energy (the Entropy Law)
		1.2.3 Implications of the Entropy Law
	1.3 Space
	1.4 Time
	1.5 Diversity
		1.5.1 Relationship Between Diversity and Stability
		1.5.2 Relationship Between Diversity and Time
		1.5.3 Relationship Between Biomass Productivity and Diversity
		1.5.4 Relationship Between B/P Ratio and Diversity
		1.5.5 Diversified and Less Diversified Ecosystems
		1.5.6 Ecological Variables and Resources
	1.6 Emerging Concepts in Ecology
Chapter 2: Importance of Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Ecosystem Services
	2.1 Introduction
	2.2 Biodiversity and Its Importance
		2.2.1 Instrumental Values
			2.2.1.1 Agriculture
			2.2.1.2 Medicines
			2.2.1.3 Industry
			2.2.1.4 Scientific Value
			2.2.1.5 Aesthetic and Spiritual Values
			2.2.1.6 Evolutionary Values
				2.2.1.6.1 Inbreeding
				2.2.1.6.2 Genetic Drift
				2.2.1.6.3 Bottleneck and Founder Effects
			2.2.1.7 Educational Values
			2.2.1.8 Ecosystem Service Values
			2.2.1.9 Material Input and Energy Flow
			2.2.1.10 Stability and Resilience of Ecosystem Value
			2.2.1.11 Resource and Waste Assimilation Value
			2.2.1.12 Biogeochemical Cycle Value
			2.2.1.13 Regulating Hydrological Cycle Value
			2.2.1.14 Protecting Soil Value
		2.2.2 Intrinsic Values
Chapter 3: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Destruction
	3.1 Introduction
	3.2 Global Trends in Destruction
	3.3 Causes of Destruction
		3.3.1 Global Population Pressure
			3.3.1.1 Snapshot of the Global Population in 2017
		3.3.2 Poverty, Inequity, and Wealth Transfer
		3.3.3 Ecologically Hostile Consumerism
	3.4 Tropical Rainforests and Greenhouse Gases
	3.5 Current Trends of CO2 Emissions
	3.6 Global Governance and Strategies
		3.6.1 Minimizing the Scale of Economy
		3.6.2 Equitable Development Patterns
		3.6.3 Biomass-based Resource Development
		3.6.4 Natural Resource Governance Policies
Chapter 4: Understanding Ecosystem Evolution and Behavior
	4.1 Introduction
	4.2 Ecological Principles
		4.2.1 Evolution by Natural Selection
		4.2.2 Diversity and Stability
		4.2.3 Carrying Capacity
		4.2.4 The Principle of Connectivity
		4.2.5 The Principle of Interdependence
		4.2.6 The Brontosaurus Principle
		4.2.7 Popular Ecology
	4.3 Ecosystem Evolution and Its Implication
		4.3.1 Ecosystem Succession and Adaptation
		4.3.2 Evolution of the Biota
		4.3.3 Coevolution
		4.3.4 Ecosystem Behavior
		4.3.5 Complex Systems and Their Characteristics
		4.3.6 Ecological Systems and Chaos
		4.3.7 Natural Systems, Ecological Processes, and Services
	4.4 Implications for Human Civilization and Living Systems
Chapter 5: Autopoiesis, Organizational Complexity, and Ecosystem Health
	5.1 Introduction
	5.2 Autopoiesis and the Evolution of Complex Systems
		5.2.1 The Emergence of Ecosystem Complexity
	5.3 Ecosystem Health and Its Implication
		5.3.1 Ecosystem Health and Ecosystem Services
		5.3.2 Human Health and the Environment
		5.3.3 Application of an Ecological Model to Human Health
		5.3.4 Agroecosystems and Human Health
	5.4 Ecosystem Services (ES) Framework
	5.5 Manhattan Principles and Lessons from COVID-19
		5.5.1 Lessons from COVID-19
Chapter 6: Satisfaction of Human Needs and Environmental Sustainability
	6.1 Introduction
	6.2 Human Needs: The Prime Mover
	6.3 Ecosystem Protection and Basic Human Needs
		6.3.1 People and Ecosystem Protection
		6.3.2 Sustainable Uses of Ecosystem Resources and Services
	6.4 Neoclassical Economics and Environmental Sustainability
		6.4.1 Gross National Product (GNP) and Human Well-Being
		6.4.2 Validation of Neoclassical Economic Assumptions
		6.4.3 Neoclassical Economics and Destruction of Natural Capitals
		6.4.4 The Market Yardstick and Large-Scale Economic Analysis
		6.4.5 Price and Scarcity
	6.5 Strategies for Environmental and Social Sustainability
		6.5.1 Dimensions of Sustainability
			6.5.1.1 Environmental and Social Sustainability
			6.5.1.2 Challenges of Global Sustainability
				6.5.1.2.1 Greedy Economic Motive (Greednomics)
				6.5.1.2.2 Survival Motive
		6.5.2 Major Strategies
			6.5.2.1 Limit to Growth
			6.5.2.2 Safe Minimum Standard (SMS)
			6.5.2.3 Sustained Yield
			6.5.2.4 Complementarity
			6.5.2.5 Sustainable Replacement
			6.5.2.6 Efficiency Innovation
			6.5.2.7 Sustainable Economic Scale
Chapter 7: Climate Change and Its Threat to Humanity in the Anthropocene
	7.1 Introduction
	7.2 Planetary Ecosystems and Climate Change
		7.2.1 The Danger of Tipping Points
		7.2.2 Emissions of Carbon Dioxide
		7.2.3 Rapid Deglaciation in Nepal Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)
		7.2.4 The Climate Change Policy and Trump Presidency
		7.2.5 Climate Change, Conflicts, and Security
		7.2.6 Insights from Climate Scientists
		7.2.7 Pessimistic Scenario
	7.3 Breaking the Back of Fossil Fuel Nexus
		7.3.1 Light at the End of the Tunnel?
	7.4 Investment on Nature
		7.4.1 Ethical Imperative
	7.5 Conclusions
Chapter 8: Valuation of Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, and Natural Capital
	8.1 Introduction
	8.2 Valuation Complexity
		8.2.1 Ecological Footprint and Biodiversity
		8.2.2 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)
		8.2.3 Knowledge Gap
		8.2.4 Protecting Ecosystem Services
	8.3 Valuation of Nature
		8.3.1 System Interdependence
		8.3.2 Biodiversity and Environmental Services
		8.3.3 Valuation of Biodiversity as a System
	8.4 Valuation Approaches
		8.4.1 Safe Minimum Standard (SMS)
		8.4.2 IPBES Integrated Valuation Approach
	8.5 Conclusions
Chapter 9: Metaphysics of Dominant Development Paradigm and Its Critique
	9.1 Introduction
	9.2 Metaphysical Base of the Mastery of Nature
		9.2.1 Western Worldview and Aggressive Anthropocentrism
		9.2.2 Basis for Anthropocentrism
	9.3 Critique of Dominant Development Paradigm
		9.3.1 Limits to Growth Debate
		9.3.2 Transition from Growth to Equilibrium
		9.3.3 Central Flaws of Neoclassical Growth Model
		9.3.4 Connection Between Energy, Growth, and Emissions
		9.3.5 Decoupling Environmental Impacts
		9.3.6 Kuznets Curve, Growth, and Inequality
		9.3.7 Environmental Kuznets Curve and Growth
		9.3.8 Ecotax and Environmental Management
		9.3.9 Reforming Modern Capitalism
	9.4 Alternative Economic Worldviews and Models
		9.4.1 The Ecological Footprints
		9.4.2 Planetary Boundaries
		9.4.3 The Circular or Cyclical Economy
	9.5 Conclusion
Chapter 10: Environmental Ethics, Nature Conservation, and Sustainable Development
	10.1 Introduction
	10.2 Development Ideologies and Ethics
		10.2.1 Ideology and Strategy
		10.2.2 Bottom-Up Versus Top-Down Approach
		10.2.3 Development Ethics
		10.2.4 Reductionism and Environmentalism
		10.2.5 Critique of Deep Ecology
	10.3 Environmental Ethics
		10.3.1 Why Environmental Ethics
	10.4 Metaphysical Basis for Intrinsic Values
		10.4.1 Nature of Being
		10.4.2 Species, Ecosystem, and Moral Standing
	10.5 Sustainable Development
		10.5.1 Concept of Sustainable Development
		10.5.2 Consumerism and Sustainable Development
		10.5.3 Natural capital and Sustainable Development
		10.5.4 Reconceptualizing Sustainable Development
		10.5.5 Principles of Sustainable Development
Chapter 11: Buddhism, Gaia, and System Theory on Environmentalism
	11.1 Introduction
	11.2 Eco-Dharma Concept and Basic Buddhism
		11.2.1 Dependent Origination and Interconnectedness
		11.2.2 Conception of the Self
		11.2.3 Compassion and Buddhism
		11.2.4 Dimensions of Buddhism
		11.2.5 Buddhism, Ecological Worldview, and Ethics
	11.3 Gaian Hypothesis and Planetary Ecosystem
		11.3.1 The Gaia Hypothesis
		11.3.2 Concept of a Living Earth
		11.3.3 Gaian Holism and System
		11.3.4 Environmental Problems and Gaia
		11.3.5 Policy Implications of the Gaian Perspective
	11.4 System Theory and Autopoiesis
		11.4.1 System Theory
		11.4.2 Autopoiesis
	11.5 Convergence of Buddhism, Gaia, and System Theory
Chapter 12: Power of Collective Human Consciousness
	12.1 Introduction
	12.2 Human Consciousness
		12.2.1 Evolution, Consciousness, and Rationality
		12.2.2 Theories of Consciousness
	12.3 Consciousness and Spirituality
	12.4 Environmental Stewardship
	12.5 Noosphere and Collective Consciousness
	12.6 The Path Forward
Chapter 13: Ecosociocentrism: The Earth First Paradigm for Sustainable Living
	13.1 Introduction
	13.2 Science, Values, and Ethics
	13.3 Dominant Worldview
	13.4 Alternative Worldview
	13.5 Autopoiesis and System View
		13.5.1 Autopoiesis and System Complexity
		13.5.2 Autopoiesis and Intrinsic Values
	13.6 Paradigm Shift
		13.6.1 Ecological Wisdom Consciousness
		13.6.2 Revisiting Sustainable Development
		13.6.3 Pragmatic Approach to Environmental Ethics
	13.7 Collective Consciousness of Interdependence
	13.8 Ecosociocentrism: The Earth First Paradigm
		13.8.1 Ecosociocentrism: A Synthesis
		13.8.2 Ecosociocentrism and Values in Nature
		13.8.3 Conceptual Framework of Ecosociocentrism
		13.8.4 Assumptions of Ecosociocentrism
		13.8.5 Directive Principles of Ecosociocentrism
		13.8.6 Ethical View of Ecosociocentrism
	13.9 Policy Imperatives of Ecosociocentrism
		13.9.1 Cultural Adaptation: An Imperative for Survival
		13.9.2 Poverty Eradication and Debt Abrogation: A Moral Imperative
		13.9.3 Optimum Population
		13.9.4 Landscape Ecosystem and Ecoregionalism: A Basis for Conservation and Sustainability
		13.9.5 Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems: An Ecological Urgency
		13.9.6 Integration of Economics and Ecology: Foundation for Sustainable Development
	13.10 Conclusion
Bibliography
Index