Sustainability and the Moral Imperative: The Global Cultural Tipping Point

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This paper addresses the sociological and philosophical perspectives of sustainability in reference to predicting the next type of society. Transitioning from a postindustrial/information age, societies will evolve to Sustainaperative societies. Sustainaperative societies are characterized as societies whose members recognize the imperatives associated with adopting sustainable practices and policies in order to maintain economic equilibrium, social order, and ultimately continuation of species. As societies transition to more sustainable practices and policies; compliance, economic opportunities, and moral and ethical considerations will be the driving forces for social change. It is the authors' contention, that only the moral and ethical considerations will serve as an impetus for social change among the masses. Marginalized populations will only be mobilized to think and act more sustainably due to moral and ethical imperatives. Thus, the cultural tipping point for transitioning fully into the Sustainaperative Period, will be when individual members of societies acculturate the moral and ethical imperatives.

Stream: Cultural Sustainability

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Keith Whitworth, Ph.D., has taught as a sociologist at Texas Christian University for ten years within the Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Anthropology Department. His areas of focus pertain to sustainability, medical sociology, and technology. He is actively working within the university setting to develop policies to transition toward a more sustainable institution. He is married to a physician and has two children, ages 9 and 13. Hobbies include traveling, basketball, and golf.

Dr. Galvin has been teaching within the TCU Department of Philosophy since 1982 and his areas of specialization include Ethical Theory, Kantian Ethics, Philosophy of Law, Political Philosophy. He has written numerous refereed articles and the book titled, Critical Thinking and the Law, with Elias Savellos, Wadsworth Publishing Company (2001).