Sustainability: an interdisciplinary field

Abstract

Discussed herein is the interdisciplinary nature of the sustainability sciences field. Through a critical historical account of so-called rationalisation of life and science, it is recognised that the economic growth model that prevailed over the last few centuries led to a disjunctive dissociation of our social systems from the natural systems, which now figures as a root cause of unsustainability. The same rationalisation arguably provoked the fragmentation of knowledge into more and more specialised disciplines, as part of a scientific framework that cannot now be readily applied to deal with current pressing socioenvironmental problems. It is argued that interdisciplinarity is the only academic response capable of achieving the reintegration of knowledge required to address the sustainability paradigm, as compromises are sought between what is essential, desired and possible, both within and without academia.