Concept in Definition ABC

The word development has different meanings. In the first place, it can be understood as the process of evolution, change and growth related to an object, a person or a certain situation. On the other hand, the term development can be applied to situations that affect a set of aspects, for example the human development of a nation. Despite the different meanings, the concept we analyze normally has a positive meaning in its different uses.

Development as a synonym for evolution

Everything is subject to change and transformation. If we think of a living being, its existence is due to biological processes. In this sense, a seed becomes a tree and cells are altered until they become an individual being of a species. There are many disciplines that study evolution in some sense. In fact, in biology the theory of evolution is the paradigm current scientist. On the other hand, there are disciplines that deal with evolution in some specific aspect (embryology, geology, Evolutionary Psychology, among many).

Human development

We need to measure and calculate the situations that affect us as a community. In this sense, there is the Human Development Index. This indicator is applied to each nation and has a statistical approach with three fundamental pillars: health, education and the standard of living. There are other indices related to humanity (for example, the poverty index).

When it comes to locating the development of a country, there is a general classification established by the UN annually (the aforementioned human development index), which establishes the following general division: developed, underdeveloped and developing countries growth. In the first group there are nations such as the United States, Switzerland, Germany, Chile or Australia. In the second group there are countries such as Haiti, Eritrea, Somalia or Afghanistan. Some nations are in an intermediate, developing situation (eg Kenya, Thailand or Cambodia).

Sustainable development

The concept of development applied to economy it does not satisfy all analysts. In fact, some consider that the conventional parameters that are used to measure the growth of a nation do not express true economic development. For this reason, in recent years a new concept has been incorporated, sustainable development.

The concept of sustainable development is based on a general principle: growth must be socially just, compatible with the Balance environmentally and economically viable. This means that a balance must be sought between the various social classes. From an ecological point of view, it is advocated that the economic activity it must be compatible with the preservation of the planet. And all this must be adapted to a productive and efficient economic system.

Sustainable development as a global approach means that there must be economic growth and social but not at any price, since you have to think about the limited resources of the planet and the generations future.

Approaches against economic development

Throughout history there have been circumstances in which there has been opposition to economic development, as it has been considered a threat or a perversion. Along these lines, there are three paradigmatic examples:

1) The position of Jesus Christ against the merchants occupying the Temple of Jerusalem. For some analysts this attitude of Jesus Christ clearly expressed their rejection of the activity commercial and currency transactions and therefore implied a critique of the idea of ​​development economic. We must not forget, on the other hand, that in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus Christ makes a defense of "poorness" through the beatitudes.

2) When the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain was consolidated in the early nineteenth century, a group arose that opposed machines and industry in general, the Luddites. The Luddite movement carried out a series of attacks against factories that substituted mechanization processes for traditional labor.

3) Certain groups consider that progress and economic development go against a happy and authentic life. Among them are the Amish, a Protestant community of German origin who have created communities in the United States and Canada. The Amish live according to the lifestyle of the seventeenth and eighteenth century, leading a very simple life (they do not lead motor vehicles, their clothing maintains the style of their ancestors and they renounce excessive consumerism).

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