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Towards a Discourse-Based Understanding of Sustainability Education and Decision Making

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  • Anke Meisert

    (Department of Biology and Chemistry, University of Hildesheim, 31141 Hildesheim, Germany)

  • Florian Böttcher

    (Department of Biology and Chemistry, University of Hildesheim, 31141 Hildesheim, Germany)

Abstract

Based on the indeterminate character of the sustainability concept, a procedural and discursive understanding of sustainability decision making and corresponding approaches for education for sustainability (EFS) is proposed. A set of criteria for teaching strategies to promote sustainability decision making, taking into account the demands of deliberative democracy theory, are presented. These criteria (such as reason, complexity management, critical thinking, etc.) are used to argue for an educational approach that involves the development, justification, and weighting of arguments in combination with an instructional tool called Target-Mat. According to a consequent process orientation, structures for arguing or defining sustainability are not given as authorized standards. Suggestions from previous social discourse are only introduced as controversial pairings—for example, different definitions of sustainability. Examples of student decision-making processes are given to demonstrate the potential of the approach to encourage student reflection and cooperative negotiation that engenders a successive deepening of their argumentation.

Suggested Citation

  • Anke Meisert & Florian Böttcher, 2019. "Towards a Discourse-Based Understanding of Sustainability Education and Decision Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:21:p:5902-:d:279673
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    4. Tom Waas & Jean Huge & Thomas BLOCK & Tarah Wright & Francisco Javier Benitez Capistros & Aviel Verbruggen, 2014. "Sustainability assessment and indicators: Tools in a decision-making strategy for sustainable development," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/189410, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    5. Cass Sunstein, 2014. "Nudging: A Very Short Guide," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 37(4), pages 583-588, December.
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