Dear ecolog-l folks, I share some information below on a new book recently published, co-written by Brian Fath and me, that I hope may be of interest to some on this list.
Best wishes, Dan Fiscus *Announcing the Publication of:* *Foundations for Sustainability: A Coherent Framework of Life*–*Environment Relations* By Dan Fiscus and Brian Fath Academic Press, Elsevier. Published Nov. 23, 2018 Website: https://www.elsevier.com/books/foundations-for-sustainability/fiscus/978-0-12-811460-5 *Foundations for Sustainability: A Coherent Framework of Life**–Environment Relations* presents a new scientific synthesis and a new strategy for understanding and solving the problems that collectively make up the *global ecological crisis*. This book focuses on the *scientific paradigm* and the *root metaphor* of the shared *system of ideas* in industrial culture. The paradigm has been identified as the ultimate source of leverage for change in complex socio-environmental systems. This is because the paradigm of science, and the closely linked system of ideas in culture, is the social mindset “out of which the system – its goals, power structure, rules, its culture – arises” (Meadows 1999). If you change the paradigm, you have power to make systemic cultural change. The suite of environmental problems we now face – climate disruption, nitrogen cycle imbalance, mass species extinctions, ocean acidification, accumulating toxins and pollution, energy and food system stress, and on, and on – comprise a truly *systemic cultural problem*. These subset problems share an underlying root cause that cannot be easily isolated – it is not as if a single smokestack serves as a “smoking gun” and reveals an easily remedied source of the problem. Instead, these problems are systemic – they permeate our entire culture, were caused by, and are perpetuated by, everything we believe, think, and do. From basic ideas of science, to the education system, media, corporate and institutional knowledge, policies, laws, technology, and more – we are fully immersed in the systemic sources and symptoms of the crisis. Paradigm, then, is strategically the best place to work on systemic solutions. *Foundations for Sustainability* lays the scientific, conceptual and ethical groundwork for a new paradigm and an integrated cultural system of ideas. The paradigm presented is for *“science in service to Life”* where Life is defined as “Life–environment as a unified whole”. *Holistic Life Science* is founded on study of the integrated multi-scale system of Life as organism, ecosystem, and biosphere simultaneously. The book credits, cites and employs the work of many network and systems ecologists, and other thought leaders, who have contributed the ideas and methods that make this paradigm possible. Backed with research from top scientists, this book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking innovative ideas and methods in ecology, environmental science, sustainability, or systemic cultural change. For more information or to arrange talks, presentations, workshops, or courses on the book, contact me: Dan Fiscus danfiscu...@gmail.com 240-522-4243 (cell)
