János I. TÓTH
Philosophical Approach on Crisis
Institution:
Department of Philosophy, University of Szeged, Hungary
Author's email:
jtoth@philo.u-szeged.hu
Abstract:
The notion of crisis was first used in medicine to describe a near death state of a patient where drastic and immediate procedures are needed for survival. Later this concept was extended to other fields as well. At the same time the meaning of crisis was diluted (i.e. serious problem) and modified (i.e. recession or depression in economics). It is an important question whether a social situation can be labelled a crisis in the original sense of the word; and whether this crisis is due to external or internal causes. In this latter case the system is unsustainable and is moving towards extinction. These situations call for immediate and drastic measures in order to secure a sustainable state.
