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Rilgin

(787 posts)
9. At one time
Tue Jun 16, 2015, 05:54 PM
Jun 2015

At one time, there were environmentalists and thinkers that were challenging the concept of growth in the context of being on a single planet with limited resources. Although a little before my time, I am thinking of Barry Commoner and Frances Lappe (who wrote "Diet for a Small Planet&quot and similar thinkers. This movement still seems alive but more individual.

Personally, I have been influenced for a number of years by a book probably no one has heard of called "The Entropy Law and the Economic Process" by Nicolas Roegen. Although I dont agree with all of this book, there are things in this book that I believe are spot on in analyzing our economic problems and the problems we would face if we really address the fact that unlimited growth is not the answer.

In particular, he points out that our reliance on pricing by work and energy used rather than by entropy gained through an activity is wrong. Energy is always conserved whether using solar, oil, or nuclear as the source of work. The main difference between the sources is the entropic costs of various energy sources. Our polution and resource issues that you reference and the problems with conceptualizing unlimited growth relate to entropy and not energy that is used in using limited resource endlessly.

He also analyzes the costs of reducing growth (to reduce entropic costs) on our need for labor. I am not sure about his solutions but I think his analysis of our problems are again directly on point.

What the Rich Always Say [View all] Rilgin Jun 2015 OP
Question to folks who use this formula: Can everyone stand at top of the pyramid? Human101948 Jun 2015 #1
And is it merit that gets one there? n/t Orsino Jun 2015 #8
Actually merit should not be the focus Rilgin Jun 2015 #10
it is true though hfojvt Jun 2015 #2
In agreement with most of your post Rilgin Jun 2015 #3
Outstanding essay! daredtowork Jun 2015 #4
Thank You. Rilgin Jun 2015 #6
Whomever came up with the perfectly hifiguy Jun 2015 #5
At one time Rilgin Jun 2015 #9
"Success" isn't what it used to be. moondust Jun 2015 #7
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»What the Rich Always Say»Reply #9