Degrowth and limits

Abstract

The Western emphasis on individual freedom has overshadowed legein, the collective construction of meanings, ushering in the dominance of teukein (the Promethean ability to act and shape the world) as the sole legitimate force of signification. This paradigm fails to acknowledge limits, leading to profound ecological and anthropological consequences. Degrowth scholarship derives its theoretical legitimacy from the notion that the current growth model surpasses ecological limits, endangering the planet's carrying capacity. However, this understanding of the limit to growth is complemented by analysing the ‘limits of growth’, highlighting the societal constraints associated with the individual pursuit of what constitutes a good life. This nuanced approach advocates for collective institutions of self-limitation. In this chapter, we offer additional insights from the perspective of institutional verticalism: limits should be established through collective and equitable discussions (legein) and then enforced by institutions, transcending horizontal regimes and simple automatic solutions.