Centre for applied ethicsEthics and Development

According to the traditional definition, sustainable development is that which is capable of meeting the needs of humanity without jeopardizing the resources necessary for the support of future generations.

Today, we believe that true development involves a fundamental goal—ensuring that all people reach greater levels of humanity. This means having access to the material resources necessary to live an adequate life, to have their culture recognised and to participate actively in the construction of society.

Applied ethics examines both the selection of development goals for a country or region and how these goals are achieved.  Ethical criteriaare at stake in both elements. Aiming for more egalitarian societies is not the same as aiming for wealthier ones. Ethically, the way in which the costs and benefits of achieving these objectives are distributed also makes a difference.

Ethics and development projects

For example, the Centre for Applied Ethics has examined through various research projects whether or not the exploitation of minerals and hydrocarbons contributes to achieving development goals in regions of Peru, Colombia and Bolivia.

Intensive exploitation of natural resources is often seen as a great opportunity for development, but many mineral-rich countries fail to translate mineral rents into welfare for the population as a whole. The ecological crisis has also highlighted the need to think about development models that are less intensive in the exploitation of these resources.