Re: [Fis] Sustainable use of resources

From: Pedro C. Mariju�n <[email protected]>
Date: Fri 14 Nov 2003 - 12:22:40 CET

Dear Sergio and colleagues,

Many thanks for your insightful comments. Let me improvise some further
points. Actually I was willing to spend some days reading the papers cited
during the last week, particularly Luis' bibliographic compilation, but
here there are some brief ideas:

-- The final direction of Gordon Scarrott's views on value (exemplified
by the germane 'notary rule' of Valero) was that economic systems contain
an inborn trend toward a natural state. Roughly, it would the hyperbolic or
'Pareto distribution'. It can be approached by purely mathematical terms in
different ways, but my favorite one is the partitional scheme followed by
Karl Javorszky (see a couple of his messages a few days ago)... To put it
very briefly: my opinion is that the discussion on value (and utility)
might be connected with central themes of biological theory, and that it
finally revolves upon human Fitness and adaptability. This could lead
towards a 'naturalization' of the economy in several senses... or its
'informationalization' perhaps. (But more will follow next week trying to
connect more rigorously with your very cogent explanations on value--by the
way, in what extent are your views 'mainstream' respect current economic
schools?).

-- In the eMergy analysis you mention, as applied to ecosystems, I see a
paradox. How would do you evaluate a high level predator, just by
considering the multiplicative relation with the biomass at the lower level
in the trophic interaction? A wolf for instance would be eMergetically 100
times more valuable than, say, an oak? I tend to disagree that one really
captures the relevant organizational relations of ecosystem networks in
that eMergetic way (it would be OK about 'simple' resources). Ecologically,
some parties have advocated here 'ascendancy' theory by Ulanowicz (see
Jerry, and also I think Loet and Pavel).

-- For the viability of the economic reform you suggest at the end, such
monumental a cultural change should occur in advance! I really cannot
imagine it. See for instance the existing 'international order'... In other
words, the dense interrelation of contemporary problems has put social
evolution in a very, very difficult situation. I do not like the Cassandra
role, but civilized options are not in sight yet.

Best greetings

Pedro

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Received on Fri Nov 14 12:08:17 2003

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