Freedom and Sustainability

Main Article Content

Claus Dierksmeier
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8760-9972

Abstract

This article examines the perceived conflict between freedom and sustainability, proposing that a qualitative understanding of freedom can integrate liberal and ecological interests. It critiques the notion of quantitative freedom, focused on maximizing individual choices without considering their content or purpose, for ignoring essential aspects such as the rights of future generations and ecological sustainability. In contrast, it argues that qualitative freedom, which values options based on their contribution to human autonomy and dignity, offers a more comprehensive solution. This perspective prioritizes options that promote the freedom of all, including future generations, and suggests that some restrictions may be necessary to enhance sustainable life opportunities. The conclusion asserts that qualitative freedom should precede the quantitative consideration of options, allowing sustainability policies to be viewed not as limitations on freedom but as qualitative improvements that ensure better opportunities for all, both now and in the future.

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How to Cite
Dierksmeier, C. (2024). Freedom and Sustainability. Revista De Filosofia UCSC, 23(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.21703/2735-6353.2024.23.1.2588
Section
Articles
Author Biography

Claus Dierksmeier, University of Tuebingen

Claus Dierksmeier (1971, Pforzheim) holds a Chair of Globalization Ethics at the University of Tübingen and works as a strategic consultant in politics and business. From 2012 to 2018, he was the Academic Director of the Weltethos Institute (Institute for Global Ethics, founded by Hans Küng) at the University of Tübingen. His academic research focuses on issues related to political, religious, and economic philosophy, with a particular emphasis on theories of freedom and responsibility in the age of globalization.

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