L'écosystème industriel

Abstract

Industrial ecology offers an original way of looking at economic activities. The approach is based on an analogy between certain objects studied by the science of ecology (ecosystems, metabolisms, symbiosis, biocenosis, etc.) and industrial systems. However, this analogical relationship raises difficulties due to the various interpretations it is open to. Although there is agreement regarding its heuristic function, the analogy can nevertheless be understood either as a model or a metaphor. The present article first attempts to show how models differ from metaphors. It then sets out to justify the epistemological relevance of this distinction for industrial ecology research. It endeavours describing how confusion amongst metaphors and models misleads to error. This consists in mixing up two levels of discourses, the first one refers to the reality and the second one reflects the vision created by the first one. The mistake may appear as an ideology or may damage the coherence of the approach of the industrial ecology. The reflection should thus contribute to clarifying the debate on the (supposed or desired) role of analogy in the field of industrial ecology and heighten the interest this field of investigation represents for implementing sustainable development. © 2009 NSS Dialogues EDP Sciences.