You might want to read up on the bet between Ehrlich and Simon.
That was a lifetime ago, and people still bring it up. All it demonstrates is that growth can go on for a bit. Can it actually go indefinitely? So far that we don't even need to care?
Ehrlich might have been way too early but still have something interesting to say.
Basically none of Ehrlich's predictions ever came true.
Re:Earth Overshoot Day
by formerkrogemp on Tuesday May 17, 2022 @07:43AM
(#31409016)
You might want to read up on their second wager. If they had taken that first wager 10 years ago, what do you think the result would be?
If you haven't, I would suggest "The Limits to Growth." I'm not arguing for "de-growth," but I think your fundamental assumption that we can innovate or Silicon Valley our way out of climate change without inadvertently sacrificing economic prosperity is too late and highly naive. https://www.amazon.com/Limits-Growth-Donella-H-Meadows/dp/19...
This is proposing that people are lacking faith. You believe something must work because an economic theory proposed that it does. In reality these theories often fail to predict anything substantial.
Our economic system is very primitive and requires steady growth. But in reality the productivity of a finite area of land cannot grow any further even with technological advancement and long before you hit the limits of thermodynamics. The only thing that can grow in an unlimited fashion are excuses by economists to be honest.
Sorry, perhaps I just don't have the growth mindset.
Not proposing that the end is nigh, but bullshit has to be called what it is in the interest of progress.