According to most definitions, a sustainable future means that human communities meet the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Sustainability proponents argue that we need to better balance social needs, resource
consumption, and economic growth. Courses that align with this theme will examine the idea of
sustainability from many different perspectives--from biological to political, physical to spiritual,
human communities to biotic communities. This theme also encourages perspectives that call
into question the very premises of sustainability--both the idea itself and the goals of its
adherents are contested.
Potential Inquiries:
1. What does it mean to live sustainably? Is sustainability a meaningful goal?
2. How do we tell stories (in literature, in film, in media new and old) about consumerism,
economic inequality and affluence, environmental change and degradation, and a host of
other issues associated with sustainability?
3. In what ways will the quest for sustainability define the coming century?
4. How have values systems in different times and places shaped our economic, social, and
ecological behavior and how can we borrow from others now?
5. What are some meaningful metrics for assessing sustainability?
6. To what extent is sustainability a scientific problem/issue?