Sustainable development is a perspective of development which is distinctive from that which was applied up to very recently; it is distinct in that it is based on economic growth. This course attempts to analyze this new view of development from its origins to its most recent approaches, taking into account its wide dimensions, various concepts, divergent criteria, the ethical component, its compatibility/incompatibility with the world economy, its results and its challenges. Given the current world situation, analysis and reflection on this topic is of utmost importance.
Course Guidelines
1. Classes start on time. Arriving more than 10 minutes late is equivalent to being tardy. Three
tardies equals one absence. Students who arrive more than 30 minutes late are marked absent. A student who accumulates four (4) or more absences fails the course.
2. All assignments must be handed in on the due date.
3. Exams must be taken on the assigned date and will only be made up in case of documented
emergencies. If an emergency occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the
professor and make arrangements. There is an extra charge for make-up tests/activities
which require the professor’s presence.
Major Course Goal
To analyze and understand the perspective of sustainable development from its theoretical principles to its practical applications with the goal of identifying its successes and its limitations, attempting to establish if its application is possible in the world economy and identifying possible benefits of its adoption as a viable alternative to confront the ecological crisis currently faced by the planet.
Specific Objectives
1. Generate interest in the students to know, reflect, and debate about this new perspective
on development.
2. Know and understand this view of development, its principles, its practical applications, its
achievements, and its limitations.
3. Identify the possible applications of this viewpoint on today’s world economy and its
importance as we confront the current worldwide environmental crisis.
4. Analyze dominant practices and attitudes of people, social groups, and society as a whole,
attempting to identify the possibilities for the sustainability of the planet.
Areas of emphasis
The course has three areas of emphasis: (1) Origin and formation of the concept of sustainable
development, (2) reasons for and realities about sustainable development, (3) Ethics and development
Thematic Areas
Emphasis I: Origin and formation of the concept of sustainable development
1. Causal factors
• Relevant events
• Development of the environmental movement
2. Conceptual framework of sustainable development
• Environmental concepts
• Economic and social concepts
3. Major dimensions of sustainable development
• Economic dimension
• Social dimension
• Environmental dimension
Emphasis II: Reasons for and realities about sustainable development
1. Why have a new approach to development?
• Why accept sustainable development’s proposal?
• What are the goals of the proposal?
2. Economic development and sustainable development: compatible concepts?
• Market economy and sustainability
• Free commerce and sustainability
• Consumerism and sustainability
• Urban growth and sustainability: the current problem and how to create sustainable cities
• Tourism and sustainability
Emphasis III: Ethics and development
1. Ethics: an indispensable component for sustainable development
• Human responsibility for nature: John Passmore
• An option for the Earth, an option for the poor: Leonardo Boff
• Respect for life: the Buddhist approach
Evaluation of the student
Evaluation is seen as an on-going process; as such, it will be applied from the first to the last moment of the course. Furthermore, as the course is meant to be participatory and dynamic, students will participate as co-evaluators. Formal evaluation will be done primarily through exercises and practice activities. The exact percentages and formulas associated with evaluation will be jointly established by
the students and the professor in the first two class periods.
Suggested criteria for formal evaluation
1. Participation in daily exercises and creation of summary and synthesis documents
2. Participation in field work and the creation of related reflective reports
3. In-class contributions
4. Presentation of assigned topics
Bibliography
J. Timmons Roberts and Nikki Demetria Thanos. “Trouble in Paradise; Globalization and Environmental
Crises in Latin America”. Edit. Routledge”.
Ministerio del ambiente y energía (MINAE), 2000. “Estrategia Nacional de Conservación y Uso
Sostenible de la Biodiversidad” (A National Strategy for Conservation and the Sustainability of Biodiversity). MINAE, San José, Costa Rica.
Avendaño, Guillermo, et al, 1998. “Filosofía del ambiente” (Environmental Philosophy). Edit. Fundación
UNA (EFUNA), Heredia, Costa Rica.
Sánchez, Vicente, 1983. “En torno al Ecodesarrollo” (Concering Economic Development). Antología.
Editorial Universidad Estatal a Distancia (EUNED), San José, Costa Rica.
Aguilar González, Bernardo, 2002. “Paradigmas económicos y desarrollo sostenible: la economía al
servicio de la conservación” (Economic Development and Sustainable Development: the economy in
service to conservation). EUNED, San José, Costa Rica.
Blanco Cordero, Marta, 2007. “Gestión Ambiental: camino al desarrollo sostenible” (Environmental
Management: the road to sustainable development). EUNED, San José, Costa Rica.
Boff, Leonardo, Brasil. Sobre la ética, medio ambiente y desarrollo (Concerning Ethics, the
Environment, and Development).
Passmore, John, Australia. Sobre la responsabilidad del hombre frente a la naturaleza (Concerning
Human Responsibility to Nature).
Leff, Enrique. Economía y Capital (Economics and Capital).
May, Roy. Ética y Medio Ambiente.
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