welcome sir KR On Sat, 17 Jan 2026 at 12:51, Markendeya Yeddanapudi < [email protected]> wrote:
> Rajaram Sir, > You opened your floodgates.Swimming in it needs the capacity to swim. > YMS > > On Sat, Jan 17, 2026 at 10:10 AM Rajaram Krishnamurthy < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Long ago I read a book in USA library by author Daly on ecology >> and economics; so from my material and google extracts of the book, formed >> this article. K Rajaram IRS 17126 >> >> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >> >> Is Ecology Also Economics-Based? >> >> An Interdisciplinary Analysis of Ecology, Economics, and Sustainability >> >> Introduction >> >> Ecology and economics are commonly understood as distinct academic >> disciplines, each with its own methodologies, assumptions, and historical >> development. Ecology is traditionally classified as a natural science >> rooted in biology, concerned with the interactions among organisms and >> between organisms and their environment. Economics, by contrast, is a >> social science focused on how humans allocate scarce resources to satisfy >> unlimited wants. At first glance, these fields appear fundamentally >> different in both purpose and approach. However, the increasing scale and >> intensity of human impacts on the natural environment have brought ecology >> and economics into close and unavoidable contact. >> >> Global environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity >> loss, deforestation, soil degradation, water scarcity, and ocean >> overexploitation demonstrate that ecological systems and economic >> systems are deeply interconnected. Economic growth depends heavily on >> natural resources and ecosystem functions, while ecological degradation is >> often driven by economic activities. This interdependence has raised >> important theoretical and practical questions: Is ecology also >> economics-based? Should ecological systems be understood and managed >> through economic frameworks? Or does applying economic logic to ecology >> risk oversimplifying complex natural processes? >> >> This write-up argues that ecology is not economics-based in its origins, >> principles, or core scientific framework. Ecology remains fundamentally a >> biological science governed by natural laws rather than market mechanisms. >> However, ecology is increasingly intertwined with economics in application, >> policy, and interdisciplinary research. The rise of ecological >> economics, the concept of ecosystem services, and sustainability discourse >> illustrate how economic thinking has become inseparable from modern >> ecological management. Understanding this relationship is essential for >> addressing contemporary environmental challenges and achieving long-term >> sustainability. >> >> The Origins and Scientific Foundations of Ecology >> >> Historical Development of Ecology >> >> Ecology emerged as a distinct scientific discipline in the late >> nineteenth century, although its roots can be traced back to earlier >> naturalists such as Alexander von Humboldt and Charles Darwin. The term >> “ecology” was coined in 1866 by the German biologist Ernst Haeckel, who >> defined it as the study of relationships between organisms and their >> environment. From its inception, ecology was grounded in biology and >> natural history, not economics or social science. >> >> Early ecological research focused on describing patterns in nature, such >> as species distributions, population fluctuations, and community structure. >> Over time, ecology developed into a rigorous quantitative science >> incorporating mathematics, physics, chemistry, and evolutionary theory. >> Subfields such as population ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, >> and landscape ecology expanded the discipline’s scope and analytical power. >> >> Core Ecological Principles >> >> At its core, ecology is concerned with understanding how natural systems >> function. Key ecological principles include: >> >> Energy flow: Energy enters ecosystems primarily through photosynthesis >> and flows through trophic levels via food chains and food webs. >> >> >> >> Nutrient cycling: Elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus >> cycle through biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems. >> >> Population dynamics: Population size and structure are shaped by birth >> rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration. >> >> Species interactions: Predation, competition, mutualism, and parasitism >> influence community composition and stability. >> >> Carrying capacity and limits: Ecosystems can support only a finite >> number of organisms based on available resources. >> >> Resilience and stability: Ecosystems vary in their ability to resist or >> recover from disturbances. {KR different chapters} >> >> These principles are governed by natural laws, including thermodynamics >> and evolutionary processes. They operate independently of human economic >> systems, prices, or markets. For example, the flow of energy through an >> ecosystem follows physical constraints that cannot be altered by economic >> incentives. >> >> Ecology as a Natural Science, Not an Economic One >> >> Because ecology seeks to explain natural processes using empirical >> observation and scientific theory, it cannot be described as >> economics-based. Ecosystems function regardless of whether humans assign >> them economic value. Forests regulate climate, oceans cycle nutrients, and >> wetlands filter water even in the absence of markets or monetary systems. >> >> However, while ecology is not based on economics, it does place limits on >> economic activity. *Ecological constraints such as resource >> availability, waste absorption capacity, and ecosystem thresholds directly >> affect what economic systems can sustainably achieve. In this sense, >> ecology sets the biophysical boundaries within which economies must >> operate.* >> >> Economics and Its Relationship to the Environment >> >> Traditional Economic Perspectives on Nature >> >> Classical and neoclassical economic theories historically treated nature >> as an external factor or an infinite resource base. Natural resources were >> often viewed as inputs to production, while pollution and environmental >> degradation were considered externalities—costs not reflected in market >> prices. >> >> This perspective allowed economies to grow rapidly, particularly during >> the industrial era, but it also contributed to widespread environmental >> degradation. By failing to account for ecological limits and long-term >> environmental costs, traditional economic models encouraged >> overexploitation of natural resources. >> >> Scarcity, Growth, and Environmental Limits >> >> Economics is fundamentally concerned with scarcity and choice. However, >> conventional economic models often assume that technological innovation and >> market substitution can overcome natural resource constraints. Ecology >> challenges this assumption by demonstrating that many ecosystem services >> have no substitutes and that some ecological damages are irreversible. >> >> For example, biodiversity loss cannot be easily reversed through >> technological means, and climate regulation provided by intact ecosystems >> cannot be fully replicated by artificial systems. These realities highlight >> the limitations of purely economic approaches to environmental management. >> >> Ecosystem Services: Bridging Ecology and Economics >> >> The Concept of Ecosystem Services >> >> The concept of ecosystem services represents one of the most significant >> efforts to integrate ecology and economics. Ecosystem services refer to the >> benefits that humans derive from natural ecosystems. These services are >> commonly categorized into four groups: >> >> Provisioning services: Food, water, timber, fiber, and medicinal >> resources. >> >> >> >> Regulating services: Climate regulation, flood control, disease >> regulation, and water purification. >> >> Supporting services: Soil formation, nutrient cycling, and primary >> production. >> >> Cultural services: Recreational, spiritual, aesthetic, and educational >> benefits. >> >> By framing ecological functions in terms of benefits to humans, the >> ecosystem services concept makes ecological processes visible to economic >> decision-makers and policymakers. >> >> Economic Valuation of Ecosystems >> >> Assigning economic value to ecosystem services is a controversial but >> influential practice. Studies such as Costanza et al. (1997) estimated >> the global value of ecosystem services to be greater than global GDP, >> drawing attention to the immense but often unrecognized contribution of >> nature to human well-being. >> >> Economic valuation can help justify conservation by demonstrating that >> protecting ecosystems is not only environmentally beneficial but also >> economically rational. For example, preserving mangroves may be more >> cost-effective than building artificial flood defenses. >> >> Critiques of Ecosystem Valuation >> >> Despite its usefulness, ecosystem valuation has limitations. Critics >> argue that reducing nature to monetary values risks commodifying ecosystems >> and ignoring their intrinsic worth. Some ecological and cultural values >> cannot be accurately captured in economic terms, and overreliance on >> valuation may lead to policies that prioritize profitable ecosystems over >> ecologically critical ones. >> >> Thus, while ecosystem services connect ecology and economics, they do not >> transform ecology into an economics-based discipline. >> >> Ecological Economics: An Interdisciplinary Framework >> >> Emergence of Ecological Economics >> >> Ecological economics emerged in the late twentieth century as a response >> to the failure of traditional economics to address environmental crises. >> Scholars such as Herman Daly argued that economies are subsystems of the >> Earth’s finite ecological system and must operate within ecological limits. >> >> Unlike environmental economics, which applies economic tools to >> environmental problems, ecological economics integrates ecological >> principles directly into economic theory. >> >> Core Principles of Ecological Economics >> >> Ecological economics is based on several key principles: >> >> Biophysical limits: Economic activity is constrained by energy, >> materials, and ecosystem capacity. >> >> Sustainability over growth: Continuous economic growth is incompatible >> with a finite planet. >> >> Natural capital: Ecosystems are forms of capital that provide essential >> services. >> >> Intergenerational equity: Current economic decisions should not >> compromise future generations. >> >> Systems thinking: Economic and ecological systems are interconnected and >> complex. >> >> These principles demonstrate how ecology informs economic thinking, not >> the other way around. >> >> Steady-State Economy >> >> One influential concept in ecological economics is the steady-state >> economy, which aims to maintain stable levels of population and consumption >> within ecological limits. This idea contrasts sharply with growth-oriented >> economic models and highlights the central role of ecology in defining >> sustainable economic boundaries. >> >> Conceptual Parallels Between Ecology and Economics >> >> Shared Analytical Concepts >> >> Ecology and economics share several analytical concepts that facilitate >> interdisciplinary dialogue: >> >> Scarcity: Resources are limited in both ecological and economic systems. >> >> Competition: Organisms and economic agents compete for resources. >> >> Trade-offs: Energy allocation in organisms mirrors budget constraints in >> economics. >> >> Efficiency: Both disciplines study how systems use resources effectively. >> >> Feedback loops: Ecological and economic systems exhibit nonlinear >> dynamics and feedbacks. >> >> These parallels have led some scholars to apply economic models to >> ecological systems and vice versa. >> >> Important Differences >> >> Despite these similarities, important differences remain. Ecological >> systems are shaped by evolutionary processes and natural selection, whereas >> economic systems are shaped by human institutions, preferences, and power >> structures. Treating ecosystems as markets can obscure these fundamental >> distinctions. >> >> Ecology, Economics, and Environmental Policy >> >> Economic Instruments in Environmental Management >> >> Modern environmental policy often relies on economic instruments informed >> by ecological science. Examples include: >> >> Carbon taxes and emissions trading systems >> >> Payments for ecosystem services >> >> Environmental subsidies and taxes >> >> Cost–benefit analysis in conservation planning >> >> These tools aim to align economic incentives with ecological >> sustainability. >> >> Sustainable Development >> >> The concept of sustainable development, popularized by the Brundtland >> Report (1987), emphasizes meeting present needs without compromising future >> generations. Achieving sustainable development requires integrating >> ecological limits with economic and social goals. >> >> Ignoring ecological realities in economic planning can lead to >> environmental collapse and long-term economic decline, as seen in >> overfished fisheries or degraded agricultural lands. >> >> Ethical and Philosophical Dimensions >> >> Intrinsic vs. Instrumental Value of Nature >> >> A central debate in the ecology–economics relationship concerns the value >> of nature. Economics typically emphasizes instrumental value—what nature >> provides to humans—while ecology and environmental ethics often emphasize >> intrinsic value, the worth of nature independent of human use. >> >> Reducing ecology to economics risks neglecting ethical responsibilities >> toward non-human life and future generations. >> >> Environmental Justice >> >> Ecological degradation often disproportionately affects marginalized >> communities. Integrating ecology and economics must therefore consider >> issues of equity, justice, and power, not merely efficiency. >> >> Ecology is not economics-based in its origins, methods, or fundamental >> principles. It is a natural science dedicated to understanding how living >> systems function within the physical environment. However, in a world >> dominated by human economic activity, ecology and economics have become >> deeply intertwined. Economic systems depend on ecological systems for >> resources, stability, and resilience, while ecological degradation is >> driven largely by economic forces. >> >> The rise of ecosystem services, ecological economics, and sustainability >> frameworks demonstrates that modern economic thinking increasingly >> incorporates ecological principles. Rather than ecology becoming >> economics-based, it is more accurate to say that economics must become >> ecology-aware. Addressing global environmental challenges requires >> respecting ecological limits while designing economic systems that promote >> long-term sustainability, equity, and well-being. >> >> In the twenty-first century, the future of both ecology and economics >> lies not in disciplinary separation but in informed, critical integration >> that acknowledges the primacy of ecological systems in sustaining life on >> Earth. >> >> References >> >> Daly, H. E. (1996). Beyond Growth: The Economics of Sustainable >> Development. Beacon Press. >> >> Daly, H. E., & Farley, J. (2011). Ecological Economics: Principles and >> Applications. Island Press. >> >> Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >> >> K RAJARAM IRS 16126 >> >> On Sat, 17 Jan 2026 at 06:04, Markendeya Yeddanapudi < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> *Mar* >>> >>> Ecology-Vs-Economics >>> >>> >>> >>> The Ecology of free nature automatically regenerates nature. The >>> Cartesian Economics which promotes mechanization continuously degenerates >>> and destroys nature. Ecology regenerates and economics degenerates. >>> Everything in the Universe is connected to everything else in the Universe >>> via electromagnetism. >>> >>> On the earth every life form is connected to every other life form >>> emotionally via the troposphere. These two basic forces connect every life >>> form to nature; every machine disturbs this fundamental connection. >>> >>> Every organism grows in life via these two connections and as a result >>> every organism develops new and new endowments. Symbiosis is the path of >>> growth which means new and new endowments, the gifts of evolution. Mutation >>> was the natural process through which organisms gained new endowments. Just >>> imagine the gigantic process of unicellular organisms mutating into diverse >>> multicellular organisms of trillions of cells, every cell served by >>> particular bacteria. >>> >>> On the other hand every life form gets maimed of its natural endowments >>> by economics. Our great ancestors ran, swam, hopped, climbed, sang, and >>> tuned with every other organisms in the gigantic Hormonic, in the free and >>> symbiotic nature, the life of continuous exercise giving the new muscles >>> that created new endowments. May be if only nature was left free we may >>> have developed the capacity to fly like birds. >>> >>> Today we need the mechanical clutches for the same lost endowments. We >>> do not even comprehend the gigantic loss. >>> >>> Imagine life when every cell in you, every bacterium in you joins the >>> macro symbiosis. The endowments of those days have become supernatural >>> powers and our Rationalists and Atheists scoff and lampoon at the very >>> mention of those natural endowments dubbed as supernatural powers. Actually >>> our great ancestors did not need any cell phones. They sensed naturally >>> communications. They smelt and sensed. The Biosphere lived and functioned >>> as one organism, Gaia. >>> >>> When a machine is used to do the work of a limb, then that symbiotic >>> connection gets cut and that limb gradually becomes dysfunctional and >>> ultimately freezes. The phenomenon of what may be called the Macro death >>> grows. When an organism loses the macro connection, that organism has to >>> wage a lonely struggle to live and Darwinism takes over creating the >>> antibiosis. The net result for the humans today is the change of the >>> ecological human into the Darwinized economic man. >>> >>> This economic man has taken his life into economic life which needs the >>> continuous destruction of nature. Actually the subject Anatomy must be >>> studied as the natural potential of every limb to develop new endowments >>> via natural mutations in the free, healthy and symbiotic nature. >>> Unfortunately we changed evolution into stagnation. And we define scope and >>> stagnate. Can you imagine a subject that predicts the gaining of new >>> natural endowments as part of natural evolution? That very aspect of nature >>> has been killed by mechanization. >>> >>> Every University must have the basic mission to revive the symbiotic >>> natural evolution.Mecanization and economics are conspiracies against >>> nature. Education cannot be surrender to machines. It must create new >>> natural endowments, not increase the dependence on machines for every limb >>> function. >>> >>> The first basic step is to start a ‘Free Nature Park’ without any >>> tampering to pioneer the revival of the lost natural faculties. We must >>> realize that in the free and healthy nature, new endowments mutate >>> naturally. Mutation is progress. >>> >>> YM Sarma >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CACDCHCL0ELLRg6oePLDqQKZBju3mD4NToHmq6sK%2B8c%3DxKjEUKw%40mail.gmail.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CACDCHCL0ELLRg6oePLDqQKZBju3mD4NToHmq6sK%2B8c%3DxKjEUKw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> > > -- > *Mar* > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZopwc7hYcvcWEQczO9pL5p5Nk8c2tWrOjKXTdUzd9z6xYA%40mail.gmail.com.
