[Chuckmak]

That's pathetic. Humanity lost.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale




The Kardashev scale is a general method of classifying how technologically advanced a civilization is, first proposed in 1964 by the Russian astronomer Nikolai Kardashev. It has three categories, based on the amount of usable energy a civilization has at its disposal and increasing logarithmically

[Specop_007]

Whats classified as "all energy available"?

[Chuckmak]

But the really cool ones are the theoretical type IV, V, VI, and VII civilizations. aka near-deity to deity status!

[NEOPO]

I say we have already had advanced level 1 or 2 civilizations yet the .5's and .1's killed them!!!
___________________________________________

Now add "and Neopo says we have proof that Bush funded Hitler" and all will be ok in my world

Get In

[Chuckmak]

hahaha read my sig, then yours.

[AWPrime]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'W')hats classified as "all energy available"?

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Chuckmak', '
')The Kardashev scale is a general method of classifying how technologically advanced a civilization is, first proposed in 1964 by the Russian astronomer Nikolai Kardashev. It has three categories, based on the amount of usable energy a civilization has at its disposal and increasing logarithmically

[Tyler_JC]

Well, in theory, we could reach the same equivalent energy usage of a Level 1 civilization by using the resources of other planets.

We already use perhaps 50% of the Earth's photosynthetic capacity (or pretty darn close to it).

Throw in fusion from the Moon's Helium 3, uranium from Mars, methane from Jupiter, and solar mirrors in space and we could add up to maybe a Level 1.

I'm not saying it is going to happen. I'm just saying that it is possible if we focused our entire global civilization on achieving this goal. We could even do it without completely destroying this planet. Just "offshore" most of the industry to places that don't mind being polluted beyond recognition. Those lunar impact crators would make great radioactive waste dumps.

Actually, if we could get everyone to work together under my austere leadership (read: Dictatorship), we could even manage a higher standard of living than we currently have. If I can get 90% of people to agree to be recycled for the good of the rest, think of how much time the remaining 10% would get to solve Peak Oil and evolve into my Level One Empire.

The possibilities are endless...

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'W')hats classified as "all energy available"?

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', '"')She canne take it Cap'n. We can't ignore the laws of physics...."

[Chuckmak]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', '"')She canne take it Cap'n. We can't ignore the laws of physics...."

[lowem]

Personally I have interpreted it roughly as follows :

Type 1 : space-based solar power stations beaming microwave power down to the planet. That might capture a chunk of the "available energy falling onto the planet".

Type 2 : partial or full Dyson sphere in orbit around the sun. That might capture a chunk of the "available energy in the solar system".

We could set up an SPS (solar power satellite) network. Theoretically.

If the Americans don't do it, maybe the Chinese will.
Or the Japanese.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('lowem', 'I')f the Americans don't do it, maybe the Chinese will.
Or the Japanese.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', 'A')nd Dyson spheres are only imaginary features present in imaginary solar systems.

[kam30en]

The Kardashev scale is a load of science fiction bull. We haven't gotten past burning stuff, and probably never will. First we burned wood, than coal, than oil, than natural gas. Non-fossil fuel produced electricity is a start, but this is currently reliant on coal/oil/gas (to produce nuclear plants, wind turbines, solar panels, etc). If we could successfully get away from burning stuff (I don't see how) this scale might be relevant.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kam30en', 'T')he Kardashev scale is a load of science fiction bull. We haven't gotten past burning stuff, and probably never will. First we burned wood, than coal, than oil, than natural gas. Non-fossil fuel produced electricity is a start, but this is currently reliant on coal/oil/gas (to produce nuclear plants, wind turbines, solar panels, etc). If we could successfully get away from burning stuff (I don't see how) this scale might be relevant.

[evilgenius]

Yeah, man, the argument isn't about energy usage but about what kind of society we are even if we are stripped of our energy. Are all of the advancements we make dependent upon the affluence given us by cheap energy? If so, isn't this our best chance to, like good buddhists, break the cycle. Maybe getting to stage one is about stepping out of the repeating forms and finding definitions for humanity that aren't based on an evolutionary emperative but on an idea of societal sustainability?

[AWPrime]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kam30en', 'T')he Kardashev scale is a load of science fiction bull.