Positive Vs. Negative Growth

Growth can be divided into that which is positive, and which we should strive for, and then that which is negative, which is seen far too common and even aimed for in our world. Positive growth is that which is natural and seen as healthy. To a child or a seed growth is the most wonderful thing, and is admired and celebrated by others. It is seen as a miracle. Our knowledge and experiences are also natural developments of our existence whose progression we seek out and are hungry for. 

However, the majority of societies seek to fulfil or sustain industrial growth which is not natural growth as that states above, but operates under the mentality of more is always better, yet we are metaphorically trying to fill a cup with no bottom. I am not speaking about economic development which secures a safe and comfortable life for people, as this growth is so important and again a natural strive for humans to fulfil. Industry takes materials that we cannot afford to take to produce things in an unsustainable way that we buy in excess and discard due to their in necessity and built in obsolescence. This kind of growth is not in conjunction with nature, which has always produced prosperous growth which positively contributes to the living ecosystem. Industrial growth destroys this. A naturally functioning and growing ecosystem has the same elements as a healthy and functioning human, and similarly a ecosystem destroyed by unnatural growth can be compered to a sick human. Even more accurately it can be compared to a cancerous group of cells that decides to grow despite the cells natural growth. As Edward Abbey says, “growth for growths sake is cancerous madness”.

There is a problem with associating positive growth with a growth in GDP as it golds that activity equals prosperity. It only takes into consideration economic activity when measuring progress. This would mean that the 1991 Exxon Valdez oil spill, for example, was positive as it increased Alaska’s gross domestic product. This is due to the fact that GDP as measurement came about at a time where our worldview was that natural resources were still ‘unlimited’ and quality of life seemed to be more dependent on economic prosperity. 

Therefore, manufacturers and industrialists should aim to make products, and produce them in such a way that encourages positive growth in an attempt to combine these two polarities. The economic grout mentality of industrialisation should be re-shaped to replenish, restore and nurture our world in the many different environmental and social aspects.