explain de-development as progress and development framework;

Question the applicability of jason hickel’s model of de-development in our

society
ILOS
At the end of the lesson the student should be able to:
Critique human flourishing vis a vis the progress of science and technology
Explain hikel’s paradigm of de-development and
Differentiate it from the traditional notions of growth and consumption
HUMAN FLOURISHING IN PROGRESS AND DE-
DEVELOPMENT
Human Flourishing
What is human flourishing? Eastern and western conceptions regarding society and
human
flourishing seem to differ: western civilization seemed to be more
individualistic (exemplified by the
Aristotelian view of a good life) while eastern civilizations are more centered on the
community (such as
the Chinese and Japanese emphasis on learning for the greater good). However,
in the context of
globalization, this apparent difference in perspectives seems to disappear. However, it
is important to note
that human flourishing is still given focus.
According to Bandarlipe, et al. (2019), the following are some
characteristics of human
flourishing:
1. All humans aim to flourish.
2. Human flourishing involves putting into action one’s capacities, capabilities, and
virtues.
3. Human flourishing depends on free will.
4. Human flourishing is sustained over time.
5. Human flourishing involves doing well in broad domains of human life
HUMAN FLOURISHING IN PROGRESS AND DE-
DEVELOPMENT
Human Flourishing
What is human flourishing? Eastern and western conceptions regarding society and
human
flourishing seem to differ: western civilization seemed to be more
individualistic (exemplified by the
Aristotelian view of a good life) while eastern civilizations are more centered on the
community (such as
the Chinese and Japanese emphasis on learning for the greater good). However,
in the context of
globalization, this apparent difference in perspectives seems to disappear. However, it
is important to note
that human flourishing is still given focus.
According to Bandarlipe, et al. (2019), the following are some
characteristics of human
flourishing:
1. All humans aim to flourish.
2. Human flourishing involves putting into action one’s capacities, capabilities, and
virtues.
3. Human flourishing depends on free will.
4. Human flourishing is sustained over time.
5. Human flourishing involves doing well in broad domains of human life
How do we know that we are progressing? What are the indicators of
development?
We can see all around us are many infrastructures were build and more technology
exist. This is the indicators that humans are also progressing because progressing is
start to our self before it reflects to our society. More often that not, development is
equated with growth and greater consumption, the more that a population is able to
consume, the wealthier it is.
HUMAN FLOURISHING IN PROGRESS AND DE- DEVELOPMENT
Human Flourishing
What is human flourishing? Eastern and western conceptions regarding society and
human flourishing seem to differ: western civilization seemed to be more
individualistic (exemplified by the Aristotelian view of a good life) while eastern
civilizations are more centered on the community (such as the Chinese and Japanese
emphasis on learning for the greater good). However, in the context of
globalization, this apparent difference in perspectives seems to disappear. However, it
is important to note that human flourishing is still given focus.
According to Bandarlipe, et al. (2019), the following are some
characteristics of human
flourishing:
1. All humans aim to flourish.
2. Human flourishing involves putting into action one’s capacities, capabilities, and
virtues.
3. Human flourishing depends on free will.
4. Human flourishing is sustained over time.
5. Human flourishing involves doing well in broad domains of human life.
Humans have attained certain progresses that we lack before. Mortality rates are
lowered due to less death due to diseases and childbirth. Life spans have increased
because of better medical care and health conditions. Literacy rates also increased
through better access to education and more alternatives or modes of learning.
Productivity has also increased, though differing in levels in many countries, which
increased food supply and income of families.
However, determining the ways on how to attain a flourishing human life is not an easy
endeavor, especially in the context of science and technology. Though, as from
previous lessons, we have learned that science and technology are instrumental in
human flourishing, some may say that overdependence to the point in deifying science
may pose a threat to human flourishing.
Growth has been the main object of development for the past 70 years, despite the fact
that it is not working. Orthodox economists insist that all we need is yet more growth.
More progressive types tell us that we need to shift some of the yields of growth from
the richer segment of the population to the poorer ones, evening things out a bit.
At current levels of average global consumption, we’re overshooting our planet’s bio
capacity by 50% each year.
In other words, growth isn’t an option anymore – we’ve already grown too much.
Scientists are now telling us that were blowing past planetary boundaries at breakneck
speed. And the hard truth is that global crisis is due almost entirely to overconsumption
in rich countries.
THE CONCEPT OF DE-DEVELOPMENT
Forget ‘developing’ poor countries its time to ‘de-develop’ rich countries – Jason
hickel
 Heads of state are gathering in New York to sign the UN’s new sustainable
development goals (sdgs) the main objective is to eradicate poverty by 2030
 Given all the fanfare, one might think the SDGs are about to offer a fresh plan for
how to save the world, but beneath all the hype, its business as usual
 Growth has been the main object of development for the past 70 years, despite
the fact that it is not working.
 Orthodox economist insists that all we need Is yet more growth.
 In other words, growth isn’t an option any more – we’ve already grown too much
 Right now, our planet only has enough resources for each of us to consume 1.8
global hectares annually a standardized unit that measures resource use and
waste
 What does this mean for our theory of development? Economist Pete Edward
argues that instead of pushing poorer countries to ‘catch up” with rich ones we
 should be thinking of ways to get rich countries to catch down to more
appropriate levels of development
 How much do we really need to live long and happy lives? In the US life
expectancy is 79 years and GDP per capita is 53,000
 Yes, some of the excess income and consumption we see in the rich world yields
improvements in quality of life that are not captured by life expectancy or even
literacy rates
 In light of this perhaps we should regard such countries not as underdeveloped
but rather as appropriately developed
 The idea of de-developing rich countries might prove to be a strong rallying cry in
the global south, but it will be tricky to sell to Westeners.
 The problem is that the pundits promoting this kind of transition are using the
wrong language
 Negative formulations won’t get us anywhere
 Perhaps we might take a cue from latin americans who are organizing alternative
visions around the indigenous concept of buen vivir or good living
 Either we slow down voluntarily or climate change will do it for us
 This is not about giving anything up. And its certainly not about living a life of
voluntary misery or composing harsh limits on human potential. On the contrary,
its about reaching a higher level of understanding and consciousness about what
were doing here and why

THE CONCEPT OF DE-DEVELOPMENT

Jason Hickel, an anthropologist at the London School of Economics, also questioned
this in the context of economics. Recent reports show that the gap between developed
and developing countries continues to widen. There is also an unclear way on how to
measure these gaps.
Many solutions have been put forward to attain this and to really determine whether we
are flourishing. Jason Hickel proposed a solution that is different from what
is usually thought of. In his article Forget ‘developing’ poor countries, it’s time
to de-develop rich countries, he looked into poverty and how current measures in
eradicating this global problem fails and instead the gap between rich and poor
countries are continuing to widen. He questions the need for continuing growth and
how this growth negatively affects countries. He also introduced the concept of de-
development as a way of bridging the gap between countries of different levels of
development.

SUMMARY
The following learning points summarize what you have learned in this section:
Different cultures have different views on human flourishing. Nevertheless, human
flourishing has certain characteristics such as the involvement of practice, sustainment
across time, and being involved in different domains of life.
Science and technology have certain roles to play in human flourishing. However,
letting science be corrupted may lead to negative impacts with respect to human
flourishing.
Jason Hickel claimed more growth or shifting growth from developed to developing
nations are inadequate strategies to finally end the problem of poverty. He asserted we
have continually going past our capacity to generate supply of renewable
resources and to absorb surplus. Developed countries are also over-consuming.
Hickel said that instead of poor countries catching up to grow as much as rich
countries, rich countries could consider reaching more appropriate levels of
development. Living long and happy lives, despite low incomes, could be the target
or goal instead of increasing growth. This means that though countries might have
high incomes, this does not equate to a long lives, literate citizens, and generally
happy lives.
He asserted that countries may consider de-development, a shift of focus from
economic growth to life expectancy and happiness. The idea is for people to aim for
having a better value of life instead of acquiring and producing more: quality
over quantity. Though many believe that material gain is not overly necessary to
achieve over-all happiness and many question the current way of thinking about
progress, it is difficult to “sell” the concept of de-development because of the
connotations of the language used by those who promote it, terms such as de-growth,
zero growth, de-development, which implies a backwards way of living. However, the
goal is actually becoming appropriately developed.
According to Hickel, solutions to achieving this goal include banning
advertising, a shorter working week, and a basic income. Hickel warned us that if we
insist of too much growth, the environment will stop us from growing, and that we will up
on poverty, something that we aimed to escape from
OVERVIEW
Science is one of the most important subjects that must be learned because of its
relevance to the student’s lives. In this module, the topic is focus on Jason hickel’s
article entitled forget “developing” poor countries, this allows us to understand the
growth or shifting growth from developed to developing nations are inadequate
strategies to finally end the problem of poverty.
People always seek to live better lives and provide a better life for their kids. In the
process, they seek to live lives of meaning and aspire to fulfill their potential. Jason
hickel asserts that more growth or shifting growth from developed to developing nations
are inadequate strategies to finally end the problem of poverty. He claimed that we have
continually going past our capacity to generate supply of renewable resources and to
absorb surplus. Developed countries are also over-consuming. By “progress” we mean
the combination of economic, technological, scientific, cultural, and organizational
advancement that has transformed our lives and raised standards of living over the past
couple of centuries. In addition, hickel’s said that solutions to achieving this goal include
banning advertising, a shorter working week, and a basic income. Hickel warned us that
if we insist of too much growth, the environemtn will stop us from growing, and that we
will up on poverty, something that we aimed to escape from.

The quest for human progress and flourishing has always been at the center of
civilization. People always seek to live better lives and provide a better life for their kids.
In the process, they seek to live lives of meaning and aspire to fulfill their potential.
Although societies are made up of heterogeneous individuals with different preferences,
people reliably organize themselves in groups, communities, or nations in an effort to
improve the status quo