The Economic Interconnectedness of Environmental Ethics in Light of Frankl’s Triadic Anthropology: Body, Psyche, and Spirit as the Foundation of Human Responsibility

Abstract

This text frames environmental ethics as an interdisciplinary lens connecting ecology, economics, and philosophical anthropology via Viktor E. Frankl’s triadic model of human existence ú somatic, psychological, and spiritual. It argues that the ecological crisis is primarily ethical, stemming from eroded values, loss of meaning, and weakened moral responsibility. Integrating ethical responsibility with economic action creates a direct pathway from human freedom and purpose to measurable sustainable outcomes, reducing negative externalities and embedding long-term values in decision-making. The spiritual dimension (noös) operationalizes autonomous, value-driven behavior, while the concept of “economic belonging” analytically links freedom, moral accountability, and economic practice. Together, these elements provide a structured framework for translating ethical reflection into actionable, measurable strategies that align environmental sustainability with social and economic objectives

.

Keywords: triadic anthropology, environmental externalities, spiritual dimension, sustainable economic behavior