Applying the Capabilities Approach to Ecosystems : Resilience as Ecosystem Capability
Kortetmäki, T. (2017). Applying the Capabilities Approach to Ecosystems : Resilience as Ecosystem Capability. Environmental Ethics, 39(1), 41-58.
Published in
Environmental EthicsAuthors
Date
2017Copyright
© Kortetmäki & University of North Texas, 2017.
The capabilities approach has attracted broad interest in environmental ethics. One very
interesting application is the environmental or extended capabilities approach which
promotes the notion of environmental capabilities that contribute to the flourishing of
non-human beings and ecological systems. The approach however lacks any account of
the capabilities of ecological systems. This essay applies the environmental capabilities
approach at the ecosystem level and examines how the flourishing of an ecosystem can
be understood in terms of capabilities. Ecosystem flourishing presumes the ability of a
given system to maintain its characteristic functions, diversity and quality, and do so even
in the face of various disturbances. Resilience can be understood as a central capability of
ecosystems to maintain their characteristic functioning in disruptive circumstances,
which is particularly important with regard to human-induced environmental changes.
This argument evokes duties of ecological justice regarding ecosystems. The nature of
these duties is considered and linked with a discussion on how the environmental
capabilities approach can promote more holistic decision-making.
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Publisher
Center for Environmental Philosophy, University of North TexasISSN Search the Publication Forum
0163-4275Publication in research information system
https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/27355770
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