Unfortunately, I know too many economists (social scientists) - some in high-level policy-recommending positions within the government - who think in this way.
- Bob Fireovid >Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:10:54 +0000 >From: Bill Silvert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >I hope that David posted this as a joke. This is the most inaccurate >stereotype of scientists that I have seen. If there are scientists that >think this way I have yet to meet them. > >Bill Silvert > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "David Johns" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU> >Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 2:16 AM >Subject: Re: [SSWG] Denial * 2: Climate Change and Economic Growth > > > > Many years back David Ehrenfeld wrote a great book (The Arrogance of > > Humanism) that amounted to a critique of some Enlightenment assumptions > > that > > he thought many scientists subscribed to with religious-like faith. Among > > them were: > > > > > > All problems humans confront are solvable by them. > > > > Most can be solved with technology. > > > > If they cannot be solved by technology they can be solved by changes in > > social organization. > > > > If we get it wrong (e.g. Biosphere) we just didn't know enough & we'll get > > it right next time. > > > > In tough times we will hunker down & do what we need to do to make it > > through. > > > > Some resources are infinite; finite resources have substitutes. > > > > Our civilization will survive. > > > > > > He suggested that the observation of history lent itself to a different > > set > > of principles, i.e. ones that better fit the "data": > > > > The world is too complex for humans to fully model or even understand, > > especially living systems. > > > > Techno-social solutions never completely solve problems; we only generate > > quasi solutions or patches. > > > > The quasi-solutions implemented generate new problems at a faster rate > > than > > can be solved; these new problems are usually more complex, costly to > > address, require that more systemic inertia be overcome, etc. > > > > Resources do run out. > > > > Social systems and entire civilizations do tank when the patches fail and > > problems become overwhelming. > > > > > > Ehrenfeld did not regard himself as a pessimist-just someone who noted > > that > > societies have always risen and fallen and that it's foolish to think we > > are > > different. He also noted that given the size of our foorprint and how much > > natural capital we have drawn down, some options are no longer available.
