In the fourth thesis of Eco-Ethics it was stated that economy and ecology are different sides of one coin. Here I elaborate on the differences. Economy refers to activities of a single species, Homo sapiens . Human economies strive to maximize the use of nature's resources for our own ends. In the long run, they tend to endanger or even disrupt natural harmony.
Ecology refers to interrelated activities of many different species co-existing in ecosystems.
Such systems balance out individual egotisms and promote overall harmony. The working principles of economies are linear. They involve production processes that begin at a natural source but end in materials more or less foreign to nature. Economies remove or isolate resources from ecosystems and transform them into products for human use. The transformations require much energy and they result in much trash.