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Ecosystemic Model of Culture

Summary

Contemporary problems - quality of life, health, and environmental issues - are discussed in the context of 4 dimensions of "being-in-the-world": intimate, interactive, social, and biophysical. As Pilon puts it, each dimension supports the others to support the development of conditions supportive of fruitful resolution of these problems. Thus, according to the "ecosystemic model of culture", diagnosis and prognosis of situations and events should be conducted not in a conceptually reductionist and isolationist manner, but, rather, should involve dynamic configurations in which each dimension of the world sustains others. A culture of care acknowledges differences and enhances human dignity, social opportunities, and justice. In this context, professionals and community groups are empowered to understand the interconnected events responsible for policies, projects, and programmes.

- excerpted from the source
Summing up the characteristics of an ecosystemic model of culture:
  • An ecosystemic model of culture is a dynamic configuration in which all dimensions of the world (intimate, interactive, social and biophysical) are properly connected as donors and recipients.
  • An ecosystemic model of culture respects the principles of singularity (identity) and reciprocity (mutual support) in connection with the sustainability of the four dimensions of being-in-the-world
  • Ethics, education, health, environment and quality of life are endogenous (proper) to an ecosystemic model of culture and sprout and prosper within it.
  • Strong and enduring events in ethics, education, health, environment and quality of life ask for the development of an ecosystemic model of culture in all proposals of change.
  • Ethics, education, health, adequate environment and quality of life cannot thrive or endure within a non-ecosystemic model of culture, are exogenous (alien) to it.
  • A non-ecosystemic model of culture hinders the singularity of and the mutual support between the four dimensions of being-in-the-the-world, harming them all.
  • Principles of ethics, education, health, environment and quality of life cannot be "added" to a non-ecosystemic model of culture to make it "straight", because they would be rejected by it.

For more information on this model, please click here for "Experience and Learning in the Ecosystemic Model of Culture: A Critical Approach to Education, Culture and the Environmental Crisis" by André Francisco Pilon.

Contact

André Francisco Pilon

Source

Pilon, André Francisco, "Living Better in a Better World: The Ecosystemic Approach to Quality of Life", University of S. Paulo, Brasil, 2003; and "The Bubbles or the Boiling Pot? An Ecosystemic Approach to Culture, Environment and Quality of Life.



Placed on the Communication Initiative site July 16 2003
Last Updated May 21 2008

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