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There is a reason: human nature. We could have both in principle, but time and time again we just expand until we are unable to continue. (and then until a tech
by everdrive 2y ago
There is a reason: human nature. We could have both in principle, but time and time again we just expand until we are unable to continue. (and then until a technological breakthrough takes things further) It feels a lot like the obesity problem; the solution in principle is fairly simple, (people just need to eat less) but in practice this isn't something that's very easy for people to do. The bulk of people are unsuccessful here.
- vikramkr 2y agoWe don't really do that though, population growth is leveling off on its own. Industrial revolution pretty much broke the malthusian trap. Now growth of economies fuels growth in GDP per capita instead of growth of capita. We've also made a few rather significant technological breakthroughs against the obesity problem recently. Human nature's proven to be a bit more complex than that.
- everdrive 2y agoI'll concede your argument once we stop building GPU farms just so I can ask google a semantic question.
- r00fus 2y agoWhat is required is a worldview that isn't based on conspicuous consumption, but balanced growth. Left as an exercise for the reader if human nature can be compatible with this worldview.
- vikramkr 2y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projections_of_population_growth#/media/File:World_population_growth,_1700-2100,_2022_revision.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projections_of_population_grow... looks pretty compatible to me!