A New Paradigm of Sustainability

Abstract

We show that the well known and popular Braundtland Commision’s 1987 definition of sustainability is an optimization problem and similarly with its improvements. Based on historical factors, discourses and controversies on sustainability-nonsustainability, and proven nature of human needs, we show that the present definitions of sustainability are not comprehensive enough to cover the many important factors of sustainability which include the spiritual and cultural dimensions of man and knowledge; and in fact, each definition also actually and implicitly inherites values which inhibit sustainability. Furthermore, we show that the present mode of decision making is based on extremism, a proven characteristic of nonsustainability. Accordingly, we propose a new concept of decision making based on Islamic moderation known as wusta. This new paradigm of optimization together with our consideration of the comprehensiveness of proven factors of sustainability and the proven nature of human needs mentioned above, we define a new sustainability concept accordingly, which we hope to establish a new paradigm in the science of sustainability.