Economics and Ecology

Typical discourse concerning current events would seem to suggest that 'Economics' and 'Ecology' are two spheres of human activity that intrinsically are potentially in conflict with each other. For example, 'Ecological' concerns, such as air pollution, are often presented as contrary to 'Economic' issues, such as profits and employment. If there is an intrinsic conflict, its nature is not apparent from the two terms themselves, which are as etymologically similar as they seem--'household management' vs. 'the study of households'. A better clue as to their differences might come from the association of 'Ecology' with the 'Environment'. But, the natural resources that are industrially extracted and refined are just as much a part of the 'Environment' as are the waste products of those processes. In fact, one meaning of the term 'waste' suggests at least an intersection of Economic and Ecological concerns, namely the squandering of natural resources. However, the other main property of waste, consequential toxicity, does seem to be at the heart of the conflict. But, the use rubric 'Economic' in these debates obscures the real conflict by glossing over its almost exlusive reference to the private sector alone. In other words, the Economics vs. Ecology conflict is primarily one of private sector profits vs. public health concerns, regarding the consequences of toxic waste produced by the processes of the former. Furthermore, the indifference to the Environmental effects of for-profit enterprises is also rooted in Spiritualist doctrines that conceive Humanity as ultimately immune to the physical world into which they are 'incarnated'. Evolvementalism rejects such Spiritualisms, and deems the private sector indifference to the public sector as under-Evolved. For it, rather, Economics and Ecology are no more in conflict than are inhalation and exhalation.