Donate Bitcoin

Donate Paypal


PeakOil is You

PeakOil is You

A lesson in the exponential function and why zero and then n

Discussions about the economic and financial ramifications of PEAK OIL

A lesson in the exponential function and why zero and then n

Unread postby Kingcoal » Fri 30 Nov 2007, 13:57:04

A lesson in the exponential function and why zero and then negative population growth is inevitable. Link
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '')What happens to the idea of the dignity of the human species if this population growth continues?” and Asimov says, “It’ll be completely destroyed. I like to use what I call my bathroom metaphor. If two people live in an apartment, and there are two bathrooms, then they both have freedom of the bathroom. You can go to the bathroom anytime you want, stay as long as you want, for whatever you need. And everyone believes in freedom of the bathroom. It should be right there in the constitution. But if you have twenty people in the apartment and two bathrooms, then no matter how much every person believes in freedom of the bathroom, there’s no such thing. You have to set up times for each person, you have to bang on the door, ‘Aren't you through yet?’ and so on.” And Asimov concluded with one of the most profound observations I've seen in years. He said, “In the same way, democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive overpopulation. Convenience and decency cannot survive overpopulation. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, it disappears. It doesn’t matter if someone dies, the more people there are, the less one individual matters.”


The article is very good for those having trouble understanding the mathematical implications of human activity. Add EROEI to this article and it would be the perfect introduction to peak oil. The only thing that Asimov doesn’t touch on with his metaphor is that the elite will always have their private baths! As for the rest of us…
"That's the problem with mercy, kid... It just ain't professional" - Fast Eddie, The Color of Money
User avatar
Kingcoal
Expert
Expert
 
Posts: 2149
Joined: Wed 29 Sep 2004, 03:00:00
Location: Pennsylvania, USA

Re: For new peak oil visitors, the race to zero

Unread postby cube » Fri 30 Nov 2007, 18:13:20

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Kingcoal', 'A') lesson in the exponential function and why zero and then negative population growth is inevitable. Link

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '') As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, it disappears. It doesn’t matter if someone dies, the more people there are, the less one individual matters.”

Maybe off topic but I guess it's like trying to compare China and the USA. In China if you get injured on the job they send you to the "glue factory" and why not? If 1 individual dies-off it doesn't matter. There's 1 billion other people who can replace him/her.

This reminds me of that coal mining incident. A dozen miners die and it becomes national news in America. In China coal miners drop like flies everyday.

I think our ability to "help" others is partially dependent on economic surplus. Once PO hits I do not envision some sort of massive push for charity.
cube
Intermediate Crude
Intermediate Crude
 
Posts: 3909
Joined: Sat 12 Mar 2005, 04:00:00


Return to Economics & Finance

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

cron