The Impact of Sustainable Development on the Homeostasis of the Social Environment and the Matter of Survival

Wiesław Sztumski

Abstract

The survival of social groups depends on internal factors (the size of a group, its socio-diversity, inner organization, coherence and synergy of actions for the common good), external factors, mostly on a safe natural and social environment, and on sustainable interactions with this environment. In addition, the survival and development of groups is determined by their stability, which in turn depends on the homeostatic mechanisms that maintain a state of balance within groups and in their environments. People have an influence on the stability of social systems; their actions may lead to strengthening or weakening of this homeostasis. The implementation of the concept of sustainable development serves, among others, to strengthen the homeostasis of social systems and consequently, to prolong the existence of mankind. However, paradoxically enough, the more the system tends to equilibrium, the less stable it becomes reducing its chance of survival. But still, striving to achieve a state of equilibrium has become an imperative nowadays in view of the concept of sustainable development. Moreover, since the beginning of the Anthropocene era, people’s interference in the homeostasis of natural and social systems has been growing, helped by the progress of science and technology. However, only a handful of the world’s population, the financial elite, benefit from this. Driven by economic interests and ignoring ecological criteria, they weaken this homeostasis carelessly and irresponsibly. Focused on their own benefits here and now, they do not care much about the fate of future generations.