The word sustainability has the sense that there is an end point. If instead sustainability is changed into the phrase ‘the ability to sustain’ it becomes a capability. Some thing that we can work towards developing.
What is it though that we would sustain?
Does anyone have any thoughts?
Frank Fisher in his book of the title ResponsAbility is suggesting that we need to develop the ability to respond responsibly.
We need to develop human responsibilities alongside human rights. And it is not enough to have these rights and responsibilities at individual, group, nation or global levels but also for organisations of all kinds.
Further it would be more useful to work towards a more sustaining way of living rather than getting ourselves caught in the trap that we think we have already understood sustainability and don’t need to know more. There will always be more to be done, there is no end in sight in working towards a more sustainable way of living.