THE RISE
OF THE
NAYSAYERS
Most would probably agree that the creative explosion we have experienced so far has been a great ride in many ways, even if it has had its problems. However, many people believe that it now must - or should – end, wherefore we should prepare for a more sustainable society without further growth.
And they have reasons for thinking that. Some people note, for instance, that many of our technologies seem to be approaching the limits of what is physically possible, so won’t that halt our growth? Or haven’t we already invented almost everything that can possibly be imagined?
Another question: won’t our market economies lead to ever bigger concentrations of money and power, which will kill the system in the end unless we stop it?
There is also this concern: is growth positive? After all, aren’t we well on our way to depleting the world’s resources and destroying the environment? Don’t we poison ourselves with all sorts of artificial stuff? In this section we shall examine these questions, and find answers that are often surprising and contrary to what common sense might tell us.
Won’t the ideas soon run out?
Are free markets self-defeating?
Are we draining the last resources?