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Renewable Resources and the Idea of Nature – What Has Biotechnology Got to Do With It?
Authors:Nicole C Karafyllis
Institution:(1) Institute of Polytechnics (PO Box 248), Division of Philosophy of Technology, Department of Social Studies, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60054 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Abstract:The notion that the idea of nature isnot quite the unbiased rule to designsustainable futures is obvious. But,nevertheless, questions about nature, how itfunctions and what it might aim at, is leadingthe controversial debates about bothsustainability and biotechnology. These tworesearch areas hardly have the same theorybackground. Whereas in the first concept, theidea of eternal cyclical processes is basic,the latter focuses on optimization. However,both concepts can work together, but only undera narrow range of public acceptance in Europe.The plausibility of arguments for usingbiotechnology within sustainable technologiesvaries according to the assumed part natureitself plays for reaching optimized states. Theculture related vision of nature's functionshas impact on agricultural biotechnology,dealing not only with food crops but also withnon-food plants like renewable resources thatare used for energy or fiber production. Theseplants are grown to reach sustainabledevelopment. However, there is a fundamentaldifference between regarding biofuels as``renewable' and ``regenerative,' due to thetension between the concepts of ``the natural'and ``the sustainable.' Arguments ofoptimization, efficiency, and efficacy arecritically discussed in order to take thepresent need for sustainable technologies forserious.
Keywords:bioenergy  biofuels  eco-ethics  efficiency  functions  philosophy of science  plant biotechnology  public acceptance  renewable resources  sustainability  technology assessment
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