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Economics for Sustainable Development. A Plea for Pluralism. In attempting to get closer to a sustainable development it is not enough to focus on concrete issues and possible measures to deal with these problems. Also more fundamental issues of theory of science, paradigms in economics and ideological orientations have to be approached. A comparative approach will hopefully make us understand how our mental maps or worldviews are influenced by science and ideology.In this paper the limits of neoclassical theory in relation to environmental issues has been emphasized and an alternative ‘sustainability economics’ outlined. Pluralism is suggested as a strategy to constructively approach problems of an admittedly complex kind. Monopoly for one theory of science, one paradigm in economics and one ideology is similarly a dangerous strategy. In any democracy we have to live with competing ideological orientations and articulation and development of such ideologies is important in attempts to get closer to a sustainable society.

Keywords: Environmental economics, sustainability economics, political economic person, ideological orientation, political economic organization, mission statement, pluralism.