Course Highlights

Part I

Scientific principles relevant to course

• Thermodynamics: Energy use produces entropy (= unusable energy and structural loss)
• Ecology:  All organisms depend on ecosystems (i) for energy to run their metabolisms and (ii) for removal of resulting entropy

Structural degradation of ecosystems

• Ecosystems degrade (lose structure) when unable to discharge entropy at rates it is produced within them
• Degradation of biosphere (the most inclusive ecosystem) currently takes entropic forms including (i) global warming, (ii) ozone depletion, and (iii) loss of species diversity
• Degradation impairs an ecosystem’s ability to support its top consumers
• Human beings are biosphere’s (current) top consumers

Degradation of biosphere tied to human energy use

• Human energy use has been increasing exponentially since Industrial Revolution
• Impacted with entropy, biosphere is rapidly losing its ability to support human society

Part II

Human energy use correlated directly with economic production

• Economic production (like energy use) has been increasing exponentially since Industrial Revolution
• Economic growth thus spurs increasing degradation of biosphere
• Alleged benefits of economic growth fail to outweigh costs in ecological degradation

Proposed ways of recovery while maintaining growth are illusory

• Technological solutions (e.g., smokestack scrubbers, desalination) are piecemeal, while problems are systemic
• Clean energy reduces pollution, but produces damaging entropy in other forms

Part III

Economic growth motivated by social values

• Growth driven by value attached to wealth by producers and investors
• Wealth generated by consumption, enabled by consumer values (e.g., pleasure, acquisition)

Implementation of remedial values

• Such values not installed by force, law, or ethical theory
• Such installed rather by changing life-styles in step with like-minded individuals