Everything in excess is opposed to nature
Hippocrates
I read a quote in The Entropy Law and the Economic Process* that is now living rent-free in my brain—along with .48% of microplastics but that is another story…
It concerns one of man’s weaknesses, namely, our reluctance to recognize our limitations in relation to space, to time, and to matter and energy. It is because of this weakness that, even though no one would go so far as to maintain that it is possible to heat the boiler with some ashes, the idea that we may defeat the Entropy Law by bootlegging low entropy with the aid of some ingenious device has its periodical fits of fashion. Alternatively, man is prone to believe that there must exist some form of energy with a self-perpetuating power. — Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, 1971
Basically we are still hypnotized by this notion over 50 years later. Think renewables and the misguided assumption that they could potentially have the energy density to pull us off of fossil fuel…
Although I was a bench scientist in another life I am pretty good at recalling equations such as the second law of thermodynamics:
ΔS=Q/T
ΔS= entropy
Q= heat transfer
T = temperature
Think about what happens to entropy if the denominator is astronomically large like say on the surface of sun — I am exaggerating but you get the point.
I am buckled down for a few weeks reading a few important texts and what always amazes me is the beauty of math and science to filter out the opinions and ideology of the masses.
Humans like their stuff. Everything you buy relied on oil to be produced. I am not even tackling the exponential cost of AI as data centers pop up everywhere.
I am reminded of something Yuval Noah Harari stated. I am paraphrasing but it was something like it would be great if humanity was better, but this is the humanity we have. And humans are insatiably destroying the planet for want of bigger, better and faster.
I know it is only Monday but I hit the ground running. If you are like minded or simply interested in the topic the London School of Economics shared live talks from their Environment Week.
Innovative market solutions to confront climate change
Paid subscribers will receive links to all nonproprietary talks inspired by these resources.