Flourishing as Sustainability

Since January 2020, I increased my study of sustainability. Though previously I restricted myself to the academic literature on sustainable entrepreneurship, I soon realized that sustainability was too important an issue to be viewed through a narrow disciplinary lens. Therefore, I began reading widely on the topic. This helped me, not only improve the delivery of my Masters’ course on “Social and Sustainable Entrepreneurship”, but also delve deeper into fundamental research questions that are driving my academic research today.

Sustainability can mean many things to many people. Most people refer back to the popular report by the Brundtland Commission which defines sustainable development as “development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). From being commercially sustainable, to exploring environmental sustainability, there are as many schools of thought as there are people thinking about sustainability. This is good, because a complex and wicked problem like “sustainability” cannot be solved by any one person, institution, perspective or school. It requires transdisciplinary thinking, which is becoming challenging in today’s increasingly hyperspecialized world.

In reading the thoughts of many philosophers, scholars, changemakers, and responsible individuals, my ideas and research questions about the shift to a sustainable world is expanding. While some are more conservative in their identification of the challenge and possible solutions, others have radical views. I believe it is important for individuals to read through the literature, see the implications of unsustainability in the real world, reflect over the topic, and personalize the sustainability challenge through their own worldviews.

Among the many books and periodicals I have read recently, one book particularly

impressed on me the importance of seeing things as they are. This is a slim volume titled “Flourishing – A Frank Conversation About Sustainability” by John R. Ehrenfeld and Andrew J. Hoffman. The book is an elaboration of the ideas of the first author, John R Ehrenheld, who has been pioneering the efforts towards sustainability, even when the term did not enjoy today’s fancy. The second author who engages John in a conversation, is Andrew Hoffman, a professor of sustainable enterprise, and at an earlier time John’s student.

While i do not want to spoil the fun for those of you who will eventually read the conversation, here are some thoughts and ideas that struck me hard:

1. Hybrid cars, LED lamps, electric building, etc.,. give a feeling that we are turning sustainable when in fact we are making things worse.
2. Greening everything will soon result in a sustainability fatigue.
3. Reducing unsustainability is not the same as creating sustainability.
4. John’s idea that instead of sustainability, we should call it ‘sustainability-as-flourishing’
5. John’s definition of sustainability: “the possibility that humans and other life will flourish on the Earth forever” (p.7). To know more about the loaded meanings of these terms, read this book.

To whet your appetite further, here are some inspiring quotes:

“In making ourselves materially rich, we are making ourselves existentially and psychologically poor.” (p.31)

“The encroachment of the market into areas that used to be personal and relational is becoming grotesque. I recently read that you could hire a potty trainer for your child.” (p.44)

“It is exceedingly difficult to detect authenticity in someone else’s actions.” (p.82)

“Skilled, rational arguers often are not after the truth but after ‘winning’ with arguments supporting their views.” (p. 101)

I have so many markings all over the book and have been re-looking at it so many times, I believe this is a book, I will re-read many times over. The book moves across the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual realms and addresses all aspects of the reader’s personality. If you care about sustainability, this book can trigger change in you.

Overall, if i have to summarize the book’s central message, it is this: John urges us to take the first step towards sustainable living ourselves, and challenges us to live an authentic life, ourselves. I use the word ‘ourselves’ with care and responsibility, to remind us that if we do not change, nothing else will.

Reference: Ehrenfeld, J. R. & Hoffman, A. J. (2013). FLOURISHING: A Frank Conversation About Sustainability. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.