 In a time where green buzzwords fly off the radio and out of news reporters’ mouths, it’s easy to lose the importance of such buzzwords. Consider, instead, turning off the radio and TV and switching your frame of mind to a less used but equally important green term: sufficiency.
Thomas Princen’s ambitious book, “The Logic of Sufficiency,” goes beyond sustainability. In contrast, sufficiency is the state at which you are pleasantly satisfied. It’s about a bite after feeling full and about ten bites before gorging yourself.
Sufficiency, in many ways, is better than sustainability. Sustainable practices, while ensuring the earth’s well-being and the enjoyment of future generations to come, disregard our own desire for satisfaction now. Sufficiency, on the other hand, takes into consideration the fact that humans have needs now, not just ten generations from now. As the book itself explains, sufficiency is about doing well: “It is about good work and good governance; it is about goods that are good only to a point.”
As the title suggests, “The Logic of Sufficiency” explains the logic behind sufficient living. Princen maintains that sufficiency is self-evident and intuitive; it is likened to our internal clocks. It’s that part of us that says ‘no’ to a third glass of wine or a second slice of chocolate cake.
So if you want to transcend the buzzwords and go beyond sustainable, read this book. Princen is one of those authors who oozes intelligence. “The Logic of Sufficiency” builds on the sustainable economics theory of Herman Daly. It flouts the notions of modern consumption and production, such as corporations producing as much of a thing as cheaply as possible, or externalizing costs.
Sufficiency, on the other hand, considers the well-being of all stake holders, including the earth. The concept appreciates natural constraints and producing a thing short of excess. Princen offers very real examples of sufficiency in practice: the Pacific Lumber Company, Monhegan Lobstering, and Toronto Island.
“The Logic of Sufficiency” is an important advance in thinking about complexity and sustainability. This book is a weapon against the deniers and technophiles of efficiency. It is timely, relevant, and an essential read for any environmentally savvy individual. As many environmentalists have claimed, Princen’s book is a sapling in a landfill. It offers hope, logic, and glimpses into a brighter, greener future.
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