Rethinking development: the need for ethics in development theory and practice

This paper examines the role of ethics in development theory and practice. It critically evaluates competing ethical positions concerning development. It will consider the ethical dimensions and implications of dominant modes of development including the policies and practices of major international institutions, national governments and independent NGOs. The major findings of this paper are that the ethical dimensions of development have been neglected in mainstream development studies. Development theorists have been preoccupied with social and economic concerns, and ignored human and environmental well-being. As a result, development as conceived by its “founding fathers” has not changed the living conditions of the majority of the people in the world. It has not overcome, and in some cases has even led to poverty, malnutrition, high rates of infant mortality, low life expectancy, high rates of morbidity, low rates of health care, low average productivity and environmental degradation. Full human development requires regard for essential religious values and, although development ethicists have examined the moral consequences of development and emphasized that the aim of development should be human well-being, and that economic growth can be the means of human enrichment, many of them have not paid attention to the impact of the environment on development. The paper thus suggests that besides social and economic concerns, the quality of life, cultural impact, individual rights and freedoms, and environmental well-being need to be addressed. KEYWORDS: Development. Development ethics. Ethics. Economic justice. Environmental wisdom. Human well-being. Repensando o desenvolvimento: a necessidade da ética no desenvolvimento teórico e prático RESUMO Este trabalho examina o papel da ética na teoria do desenvolvimento e da prática. Há a avaliação crítica das posições éticas concorrentes relativas ao desenvolvimento e são consideradas as dimensões éticas e as implicações de modos dominantes de desenvolvimento, ...