问答题 Ecological economics recognizes that humans and their economies are parts of larger natural ecosystems and co-evolve with those natural systems. 61) There is a material and energy basis for the relations between human economies and their ecosystems, defining not only economic, but social, structures and processes. Economies possess general ecosystem properties, such as dynamism, evolution, integrity, stability and sustenance. Economies are embedded in larger natural ecosystems, and exchange flows of materials and energy with natural systems.
62) What makes humans and their economies unique as a sub-ecosystem is their ability, through willful effort, ignorance and human designed tools, to dramatically restructure and reform processes in ecosystems of which they are a part; The ability is to such a magnitude that human welfare can be diminished or enhanced by those original actions. Some types of economic activities, and the welfare that originates from them, would not be sustainable if they substantially adversely impact natural systems.
63) The willful effort to extract useful things from natural systems is motivated by the satisfaction of basic biological needs and the seemingly limitless search for pleasure through consumption of goods and through social associations. The magnitude of potential impact on their own welfare through effects on natural systems requires that human decisions be guided by some notion of the value of their actions and the value of their impacts on ecosystems, either in terms of benefits of use or costs of abuse. Some concept of value is required for rational activities of human economies within their natural systems.
Both the structures and processes of natural systems have identifiable instrumental value to the human economy. These narrow use values may be reflected by the summation of individual values, to the extent they are private. However, natural systems also have aesthetic, moral and cultural values. These values are more intrinsic and unmeasurable using traditional human preferences.
64) Valuation is made more complicated by the fact that our natural environment is highly likely to shape values through establishing social and economic relations, aesthetic standards and culture. If so, our decisions now about the natural environment will shape future value systems, making values endogenous and, therefore, a poor guide to behavior. 65) A way out of this dilemma is to make valuations of natural systems based on "What we would like to see society become" rather than to ask what current valuations are. The value of natural systems is then based on their ability to assist us in becoming what we wish to be.