This book examines the concept of 'development' from alternative
perspectives and analyzes how different approaches influence law.
'Sustainable development' focuses on balancing economic progress,
environmental protection, individual rights, and collective interests.
It requires a holistic approach to human beings in their individual and
social dimensions, which can be seen as a reference to 'integral human
development' - a concept found in ethics. 'Development' can be
considered as a value or a goal. But it also has a normative dimension
influencing lawmaking and legal application; it is a rule of
interpretation, which harmonizes the application of conflicting norms,
and which is often based on the ethical and anthropological assumptions
of the decision maker. This research examines how different approaches
to 'development' and their impact on law can coexist in pluralistic and
multicultural societies, and how to evaluate their legitimacy, analyzing
the problem from an overarching theoretical perspective. It also
discusses case studies stemming from different branches of law.