World In Transition: Humankind and Nature

Of major concern, in this era of transformation, is the extensive and profound interaction of humankind with nature. The global-scale social and technological projects of humankind involve a myriad of changes of the ecosphere. Starting with the call for an interdisciplinary synthesis and respect of plurality, acknowledging the evolving scientific truth, this book develops the need for an integrated but inevitably provisional worldview. Contributors from different parts of the world focus on four modes of change: (i) Social change and the individual condition, (ii) Complex evolution and fundamental emergent transformations, (iii) Ecological transformation and responsibility inquiries, (iv) The economic-ecological and socio-technical equilibria.