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| Science Forum Index » Nonlinear Science Forum » The Population Bomb... |
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| Robert L. Oldershaw... |
 Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 6:20 am |
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From "Backreaction" blog:
Bee [aka the devine Ms. Hossenfelder],
Knowing whether the population explosion
[which can be empirically documented, if one
looks up pop. vs time] is a huge threat to the
foreseeable future of humankind and other
species, or something we can successfully
deal with as we go along, is a matter of wisdom
and judgement.
Alas, today we have an over-abundance of
analytical expertise - witness the geniuses
at work in the finance industry or in string theory
endeavors. What we seem to be badly missing
are wisdom and judgment, which are more weighted
toward right hemispheric conceptual abilities.
Regarding the severity [or not] of the population
problem, E.O. Wilson has an objective and candid
review of the situation in "The Future Of Life"
[esp. Ch. 2, "the Bottleneck"]. This is not a jeremiad.
Wilson calmly describes the reality of the situation.
We can wake up from our ignorance and our delusions
and our self-interests. Or we can suffer the consequences.
Our choice.
Hoping for a new paradigm,
RLO
www.amherst.edu/~rloldershaw |
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| Robert L. Oldershaw... |
| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:42 pm |
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On Nov 5, 11:20 am, "Robert L. Oldershaw" <rlolders... at (no spam) amherst.edu>
wrote:
[quote]From "Backreaction" blog:
[/quote]
ADDENDUM:
You mention good medical care as a crucial
factor in decreasing excessive birth rates.
Here is an excellent case in point. You are right,
but why is medical care often so poor? It is
because the whole economy of the area is poor.
And that is largely because the inhabitatnts have
overpopulated the territory and have started
decimating the natural resources upon which
they rely [whacking down all the trees for firewood
is like eating all your seed stocks].
So: over-population leads to environmental problems,
which lead to economic problems, which lead to
poor medical care, which leads to over-population.
See how it works? See how to break the cycle?
And this applies not just in highly under-developed
countries. With slightly modified inputs the same
basic anaysis applies in the good ol' USA, where
we have just passed the 300 milion mark, I believe.
Time for action, not just words,
Time for a new paradigm.
RLO
www.amherst.edu/~rloldershaw |
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| Robert L. Oldershaw... |
| Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:11 am |
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On Nov 5, 6:42 pm, "Robert L. Oldershaw" <rlolders... at (no spam) amherst.edu>
wrote:
[quote]
[/quote]
"I agree with you, but how do you wake up people
numbed down by scary stories of catastrophes
and disasters in their press, people who proclaim
they aren't interested in politics, base their decision
on believe and fashion, and pray if they have a problem?
Best,
B."
The only valid and morally acceptable approach
I can think of is education. Scientists actually do
very little educating of the public, generally preferring
to reside well above the masses and making their
glass bead games so abstruse that they are insulated
from the public and largely come into contact only with
other glass bead game players.
Scientists, politicians, celebrities, religious leaders and
anyone who has the "pulpit" from which to reach out
and teach people should devote 10% of their
time to lifting the masses [worldwide] out of their
medieval fog and into the light of scientific reason and
knowledge [tested science not untestable pseudo-science,
mind you].
What we seek is an evidence-based approach to
knowledge and living. The key ingredients are
critical thinking and a commitment to honesty.
We also need leaders who lead because it is the
right thing to do, not for money, careers, fame, or
power. Simply because they love nature and science.
Ok, so I'm an idealist. Why not!
RLO
www.amherst.edu/~rloldershaw |
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