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Sustainability and Ecological Civilization in the Age of Anthropocene: An Epistemological Analysis of the Psychosocial and “Culturalist” Interpretations of Global Environmental Risks

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  • Jean-Yves Heurtebise

    (Department of French, FuJen Catholic University, Taipei 24205, Taiwan
    Centre d’Etudes Français sur la Chine Contemporaine (The French Centre for Research on Contemporary China—CEFC), UMIFRE 18, MAEE-CNRS, Hong-Kong, China)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to assess the validity of the culturalist explanation of unsustainability by critically examining the social–cultural interpretation of the risks on which it is epistemologically based. First, we will explore the different ways in which the notion of Anthropocene is changing our perception of risks. Second, we will analyze the limits of the social–cultural explanation of risks relative to the global (non-linear) interdependence between human activities and environmental processes that defines the Anthropocene. Third, we will introduce the Chinese concept of Ecological Civilization and analyze its cultural foundations and culturalist assumptions. Finally, we will develop the practical consequences of this critic of the social-cultural interpretation of risks and of culturalist explanations of unsustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Yves Heurtebise, 2017. "Sustainability and Ecological Civilization in the Age of Anthropocene: An Epistemological Analysis of the Psychosocial and “Culturalist” Interpretations of Global Environmental Risks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:8:p:1331-:d:106546
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    Cited by:

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    2. Xindong He & Linhong Wu & Guoqiang Shen & Xingfan Peng & Lei Huang, 2023. "A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Ecological–Economic Coupling Coordination in the Chengdu–Chongqing Urban Agglomeration," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, July.
    3. Yilong Li & Yu-Ting Tang & May Tan-Mullins & Christopher D. Ives, 2023. "Exploring the Potential Opportunities of China’s Environmental Agenda, Ecological Civilization, on Global Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-25, March.
    4. Alesandros Glaros & Geoff Luehr & Zhenzhong Si & Steffanie Scott, 2022. "Ecological Civilization in Practice: An Exploratory Study of Urban Agriculture in Four Chinese Cities," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-16, September.
    5. Mikko Kurenlahti & Arto O. Salonen, 2018. "Rethinking Consumerism from the Perspective of Religion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Binsen Chen & Bin Zhao & Yi Li & Qiuyue Yu & Bingjian Zhao & Junyin Tan & Chuanhao Wen, 2022. "Spatiotemporal Evolution and Factors Influencing Ecological Civilization Development in Chinese Watersheds," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-20, August.

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