Human ecology as a way of life: environmental, economic and social ecology

This paper provides an account of the philosophical foundation of human ecology. While ecology is motivated by theoretical interest, human ecology is motivated by practical interest. The philosophical nature of human ecology is seen in its prudential and ethical concerns, which are intrinsically connected to the practical pursuit of a good life. The themes of human ecology and integral ecology are discussed using the concept ‘ecological spirituality’, mentioned by Pope Francis in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’. Human ecology as a way of life is understood in terms of ecological spirituality while the dimensions of integral ecology include environmental, economic and social ecology. One of the major concerns of human ecology is the question of sustainability and its relation to consumption and production. On this account, a natural focus of human ecology is in the area of economic ecology. This paper presents an ecological approach to understanding the nature of business, production, work and wealth. A case study of the movement known as the Economy of Communion is provided as an example of a new ecologic paradigm that integrates spirituality with business practices, aims at the common good and promotes social justice in the world.