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Institutionalizing Strong Sustainability: A Rawlsian Perspective

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  • Konrad Ott

    (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Philosophisches Seminar, Leibnizstr. 4, 24118 Kiel, Germany)

Abstract

The article aims to provide some ethical orientation on how sustainability might be actualized by institutions. Since institutionalization is about rules and organization, it presupposes ideas and concepts by which institutions can be substantiated. After outlining terminology, the article deals with underlying ethical and conceptual problems which are highly relevant for any suggestions concerning institutionalization. These problems are: (a) the ethical scope of the sustainability perspective (natural capital, poverty, sentient animals), (b) the theory of justice on which ideas about sustainability are built (capability approach, Rawlsianism), and (c) the favored concept of sustainability (weak, intermediate, and strong sustainability). These problems are analyzed in turn. As a result, a Rawlsian concept of rule-based strong sustainability is proposed. The specific problems of institutionalization are addressed by applying Rawls’s concept of branches. The article concludes with arguments in favor of three transnational duties which hold for states that have adopted Rawlsian strong sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Konrad Ott, 2014. "Institutionalizing Strong Sustainability: A Rawlsian Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2014:i:2:p:894-912:d:33195
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Klara Helene Stumpf & Stefan Baumgärtner & Christian U. Becker & Stefanie Sievers-Glotzbach, 2015. "The Justice Dimension of Sustainability: A Systematic and General Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-35, June.
    3. Maria Inês Paes Ferreira & Graham Sakaki & Pamela Shaw & Thaís Nacif de Souza Riscado & Luis Felipe Umbelino, 2023. "Sustainable Water Management and the 2030 Agenda: Comparing Rain Forest Watersheds in Canada and Brazil by Applying an Innovative Sustainability Indicator System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Martin Bohle, 2019. "One Realm: Thinking Geoethically and Guiding Small-Scale Fisheries?," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(2), pages 253-270, April.
    5. Aurélie Halsband, 2022. "Sustainable AI and Intergenerational Justice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-11, March.
    6. Martin Bohle & Cornelia E. Nauen & Eduardo Marone, 2019. "Ethics to Intersect Civic Participation and Formal Guidance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-17, February.
    7. Eduardo Marone & Martin Bohle, 2020. "Geoethics for Nudging Human Practices in Times of Pandemics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-15, September.
    8. Martin Bohle & Eduardo Marone, 2021. "Geoethics, a Branding for Sustainable Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-12, January.
    9. LaDawn Haglund, 2019. "Human Rights Pathways to Just Sustainabilities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-19, June.

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