Economics as Means, not End

Consider the Greek root, oikos, and two key terms: ecology and economy

The term "economy" derives from the Greek oikonomia, household management, based on oikos, "house," and nemein, "manage." Now consider the etymologically related term, "ecology," which is defined as "the branch of biology concerned with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings." Ecology also derives from the ancient Greek term oikos, but instead of management, focuses on logos, "reason" (Oxford English Dictionary).

Sachs embeds the economy within nature (ecology) and culture

At the second class meeting all students will elect to join one of three discussion-research groups that will focus on one of the three interrelated crises and the citizens organizations/movements that have emerged to respond to these issues.

Which should precede the other?

Surely, we must understand the home of humanity before we muster the audacity to manage it. The sheer complexity should daunt us and make us prudent. However, this is not the case. In the last century and more, economy has obviously trumped ecology, to the detriment of the earth. This imbalance cannot be sustained. Harmonizing this essential distinction must ground any approach to the economy that supports sustainability, even if that strategy originates from outside economics per se.

Ends must come before means. Means must be subordinate to ends. Ecology should precede economics.

Scrutinize ends and means. Management of the human house, economics, implies the administration of means, a service function. The purpose of the economy is to serve humanity and the expanded human "house,"--our planet--not the obverse. That ecology takes precedent over economics, inverts economics, is the critical move of ESS and within Brown and Sachs.