Living by design

Earth’s resources are limited and they must be preserved for future generations. To make a syllabus for living sustainably, humanity needs a fresh starting point. The old ‘-ologies’, were for a different age. The new beginning has to be a conceptual framework that makes us see and think differently about integrating culture with ecology in order to bring human consumption in line with Earth’s capacity to regenerate. The scientific pillar is a circular economy that mimics nature by cycling resources. The social pillar is ecological design of a conservation management system that applies arts reasoning to explain sustainability.

Lewis Doty (nfo@ecologycenter.us) puts this imperative succinctly.

“Ecological design is the art that reconnects us as sensuous creatures evolved over millions of years to a beautiful world. That world does not need to be remade but rather revealed. To do that, we do not need research as much as the rediscovery of old and forgotten things. We do not need more economic growth as much as we need to re-learn the ancient lesson of generosity, as trustees for a moment between those who preceded us and those who will follow. Our greatest needs have nothing to do with the possession of things but rather with heart, wisdom, thankfulness, and generosity of spirit. And these virtues are part of larger ecologies that embrace spirit, body, and mind—the beginning of design”