How does Weak Sustainability view the relationship between natural capital and manufactured capital?

Weak Sustainability posits that natural capital and manufactured capital can be seen as substitutable, meaning that losses in natural capital can be compensated for by increases in manufactured capital, and vice versa. This framework emphasizes that both types of capital contribute to human welfare and societal wellbeing. Therefore, the perspective within Weak Sustainability is that if natural resources decline, their degradation can potentially be offset by manufactured alternatives or improvements.

The idea of equal societal wellbeing reflects the assumption that the two forms of capital can deliver similar levels of benefits to society. As such, investment in manufactured capital can be viewed as a valid alternative when natural capital is depleted, as long as the total capital (natural plus manufactured) remains sufficient to ensure continued societal wellbeing.

This understanding differentiates Weak Sustainability from other sustainability approaches, which argue for a more intrinsic value in natural resources and caution against substituting them directly with manufactured capital. Thus, the principle underlying the selected answer aligns well with the broader assertions of Weak Sustainability regarding the relationship between these two capitals.