Foundations of Life, Orders of the Living, and Orientations of Humans

This chapter deals with the intrinsic sustainability of non-human life and the particular role of humans for the development of life. Before the appearance of humans, life on Earth demonstrated its sustainability without the need for rational planning. Life in its persistence is conceived with three tendencies of organisms, which we will refer to as three Tele (from the Greek term telos, goal, end, order): 1. Self-preservation and self-development; 2. Self-repetition or self-renewal through reproduction; 3. Serving, taking and giving in relation to other organisms. It is useful to consider the services provided by living beings that support the life of other living beings. We refer to a source of services for one or more types of living beings as a fund. The picture of the sustainability of non-human life changes when we pay attention to the role of humans. Humans can modify and radically transform the three Tele. For this, they are guided by interest. Three classes of interests are analyzed in themselves and in their consequences for sustainability: 1. The first interest arises from the perspective of the individual person: self-interest. 2. The second interest corresponds to the perspective of the community: the community interest. 3. The third interest takes the perspective of sustainability. It is the interest in preserving the natural basis of life and in the good life of humans together with all creatures: the interest of humanity.