Democracia

Publicado em International Conference on Energy, Environment and Disasters (INCEED 2005),
July 24-30, 2005, Charlotte, NC, USA sob o título “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE
SEARCH FOR WELL-BEING IN THE RISK SOCIETY”

O Desenvolvimento Sustentável e a busca por bem-estar na sociedade de risco
Flávio Tayra1 e Helena Ribeiro2 (FSP/USP – Brasil)

Abstract

In this paper, our aim is to describe the relationship between the western idea of well-being and the precepts contained in the concept of Sustainable Development. Under the focus of environmental concern, the wide diffusion of the concept of Sustainable Development seems to retake old discussions on what is a good life and consequently the idea and the ideal of human happiness. At the present time, however, to look for such definition becomes more complex, given the social, economical and technological transformations characterized by a high degree of insecurity and uncertainty, which the german sociologist Ulrich Beck denominated “risk society”. Its characteristic, among others, is the individualization in a many spheres of daily life including family life and work, which originates a crisis of social identity and a particular idea of happiness based in acquisition and ownership of goods.
Analyzing this context, we examine the variety of approaches to well-being, since the Utilitarian theory until the idea of human capability development. As consequence, we analyze the well-being notion together with the cultural pressure exercised by the need of larger economical action required at present time, and how it influences what is understood as well-being by the modern western society.
The ideas examined have important implications to economic theory and policy, especially regarding the social construction of preferences and the relationship between the satisfaction of these needs and perceived well-being. We intend to contribute for an alternative path to sustainable development, in which the