The Implementation of Sustainable Development

This article presents an evaluation of the chances for and the implementation of sustainable development within the context of relevant philosophical literature. The starting point of the discussion is presentation of the divergent views among various authors regarding this question, and examination of the reasons for these differences. What emerges is that these are the result of differences in what is understood as sustainable development, especially in the axiological value of the content of this concept. Consequently, two postulates for conducting research into the philosophical literature of this nature are formulated. The first involves starting the analysis with the identification of the philosophical and axiological options in the version of sustainable development under analysis. The second postulate is to restrict the application of the empirical- analytical perspective to only those cases in which it is possible taking into consideration the value system embodied in the society and identifying the relevant social entity for the implementation of the system. Next, the constitutive features of a philosophy of sustainable development as a normative theory are outlined. This role is played by the Socratic imperative of the primacy of the theoretical mind over the practical. Therefore, the same line as in philosophical tradition can be drawn between a philosophy of sustainable development and projects for the improvement of life that propagate concrete cultural, religious or ideological ideals. Finally, such projects are juxtaposed against the version of sustainable development that belongs to the conceptual achievements of the UN. It is noted that its inherent axiology is based on general considerations which are a result of extensive political negotiations and social acceptance. The article concludes with an attempt to reconstruct this axiology.