The LEVER OF RICHES

[Denis Frith]

Joel Mokyr has provided in his book 'The LEVER OF RICHES' a comprehesive assessment of technological invention, development and implementation around the globe and over millennia. It is a fascinating read as it provides details of the achievements of individuals, communities and countries. It provides insight into the impact of the Industrial Revolution in England as well as other periods of rapid invention and application of technology. The Englishman, Francis Bacon insisted in the seventeeth century that knowledge should be made useful and science be put in the service of technology in the quest for an "an empire of man over nature". This sums up the continuing philosophy of society over the ages. The term 'anthropocentrism' covers up this enduring outlook.

Industrialized civilization has irreversibly used up vast amounts of the limited natural material resources in providing goods and services. As the easy to obtain resources have been used up, advances in identification, extraction and production technology have reinforced the common belief that civilization will continue to progress materialistically. Economic growth is still the domianat dogma.  Emerging signs that this growth is a delusion are being recognised by only some authorities. Concern about climate change is growing slowly without appreciable remedial action yet. Estimates of the remaining reserves of natural resources are generaly viewed as being unduely pessimistic.

 

That view, however, is only one side oF the balance sheet. The physical reality that is not properly taken into account in the anthropcentric view is that in addition to the irreversible usage of a vast range of limited natural resources, technological systems are producing irrevocable waste that is doing much more harm than causing climate change. Pollution of land, sea, air and organisms, including people, is another one raising concern, but not much action. Only some of the waste material can be recycled at an ecological cost. Of course, it is common knowledge that systems, such as cars, age despite maintenance but the holistic nature of this natural process is not realistically taken into account. Few people understand that many of the cities around the globe are doomed. More people are concerned with the fact that the use of irreplaceable natural resources to bolster food production in the Green Revolution will inevitably decline while the global population contines to grow. That and the declining availability of potable water and sewage systems will mean that a massive die off will occur in coming decades. There is little that can be done to ease that coming humanitarian disaster.

 

It is a matter for speculation by knowledgeable people as to what will be the worst predicaments in regions around the world in the years ahead. The declining availablity of liquid fuels for aircraft and ships is one that will certainly have a horrendous impact on the well around the globe. Failure to continually supply electricity will become common in many of those developed communities that have become very dependent on electricity for a range of services including those online. But the die off will be the most horrendous predicament for the billions of disadvantaged.

 

Ironically, many commentators focus on the booms and busts of intangible financial markets while not taking into account tangible physical reality. The rapid growth of fiat money and debt in recent times is deemed by them to be leading to a collapse. This is quite likely but that would only marginally affect the irrevocable decay materialistic operations.

 

Denis Frith