Lecture 9: What’s next?
The various steps we have discussed in the Ascent of Man have raised mankind to a role as Master of the Planet. The consequences of these steps have been largely beneficial and have led to a major population increase and a standard of living for most of the population that is way beyond that achieved by man at any point in his past. We have access today to health and to comforts unimaginable in prior generations and have ready access to a knowledge of, and understanding of, nature and of physical processes well beyond that of our ancestors.
We are now beginning to confront the twin problems that we are rapidly consuming many of our natural resources that are finite in extent, and that our activities are starting to have a major effect on the planetary environment. The past history of mankind has, in large part, been one of expanding growth and influence. These problems raise concerns regarding our continued role as planetary masters and will inevitably affect the future role of our species.
Lecture Outline
1. Progress
2. Changes with time
3. Problems with growth
Copper
Cars
Fish
Plastics
4. Energy
5. Growth versus Steady State
6. Role of science
7. Shared beliefs
8. Human Resources
9. Endnote
Concepts introduced in the ninth lecture:
Next lecture will be about possibilities of extraterrestrial life in light of what we know about the Ascent of Man.
The various steps we have discussed in the Ascent of Man have raised mankind to a role as Master of the Planet. The consequences of these steps have been largely beneficial and have led to a major population increase and a standard of living for most of the population that is way beyond that achieved by man at any point in his past. We have access today to health and to comforts unimaginable in prior generations and have ready access to a knowledge of, and understanding of, nature and of physical processes well beyond that of our ancestors.
We are now beginning to confront the twin problems that we are rapidly consuming many of our natural resources that are finite in extent, and that our activities are starting to have a major effect on the planetary environment. The past history of mankind has, in large part, been one of expanding growth and influence. These problems raise concerns regarding our continued role as planetary masters and will inevitably affect the future role of our species.
Lecture Outline
1. Progress
2. Changes with time
3. Problems with growth
Copper
Cars
Fish
Plastics
4. Energy
5. Growth versus Steady State
6. Role of science
7. Shared beliefs
8. Human Resources
9. Endnote
Concepts introduced in the ninth lecture:
- man’s dominance over other species, and over nature, derives from his expanded knowledge and his creativity in putting that knowledge to work
- in a geologically short span of time his accomplishments have moved far ahead of those of any other species
- these advances have, in large part, relied on the use of the Earth’s natural resources
- Earth resources are limited, and we have reached a stage where we can start to see the limitations of these resources
- our expanded capabilities have begun to have effects on the planetary environment
- man’s future will depend on the creativity of man in confronting these problems
Next lecture will be about possibilities of extraterrestrial life in light of what we know about the Ascent of Man.