The Meta-Ethical Basis of International Development and the Development Ethics Alternative

Chapter 4 explores the meta-ethical basis of international development, which results in a specific vision for a better life and a good society. The chapter also points out that the “more is better” ethical position, along with outcome-based economic development, in the existing social and productive relationships leads international development to ecological destruction, resource exploitation, and highly unequal distribution of world wealth. To this unpleasantness, development ethics approaches the vision of a good society differently: it considers the good lives of all people in the world in the sense of human ascent. Finally, sustainability with the natural environment is considered as a component of a good society.