Fighters for democratic socialism and an ecological society have each recognized the handwriting on the wall: the society cannot continue on the path on which it is treading. This title offers a connection between the political and the ecological.

Andre Gorz, to my mind the greatest of modern French social thinkers, dares to venture where no one really has before. Fighters for democratic socialism and an ecological society have each recognized the handwriting on the wall: modern society cannot continue on its present path. Neither group, however, has even begun to recognize the other's value, beyond being little more than a tactical means towards achieving their own ends. Gorz, in this exciting and penetrating gem of a book, addresses precisely this question, and offers a connection between the political and the ecological.In an age of crisis the realist becomes visionary and the visionary the rational architect of the future. Andre Gorz is just that. The present decade will be a debacle for progressive change unless our creative efforts move towards linking our concerns with the quality of life to those of economic and political structure. Andre Gorz, as this little volume bears witness, has taken up where Herbert Marcuse left off. 'The only things worthy of each,' Gorz says, 'are those which are good for all.' This book is worthy indeed of each.

Introduction: Two Kinds of Ecology.1. Ecology and Freedom. Ecological realism
Political economy and ecology: Marx and Illich
Ecology and the inversion of tools
Ecology and the crisis of capitalism
The poverty of affluence
Equality and difference
Social self-regulation and regulation from outside
Seven theses by way of conclusion. A possible utopia.2. Ecology and Society. Reinventing the future
Affluence dooms itself
The social ideology of the motorcar
Socialism or ecofascism
Twelve billion people?.3. The Logic of Tools. Nuclear energy: a preeminently political choice
From nuclear electricity to electric fascism
Boundless Imperialism: the multinationals
Labor and the 'quality of life'.4.Medicine, Health and Society. Introduction. Medicine and illness
Health and society
Science and class: the case of medicine. Epilogue: The Continuing American Revolution.