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Re: fHuman vs. natural influences on the environment
In <mhunt.18.000C424A@postoffice.newnham.utas.edu.au>
mhunt@postoffice.newnham.utas.edu.au (Mark A. Hunt) writes:
>
>In article <320CF7CA.53C2@vgernet.net> Joseph Zorzin
<redoak@vgernet.net> writes:
>>From: Joseph Zorzin <redoak@vgernet.net>
>>Subject: Re: fHuman vs. natural influences on the environment
>>Date: Sat, 10 Aug 1996 16:57:46 -0400
>
>>Hmmm.... I would suggest that the carrying capacity for homo sapiens
on
>>this planet would be a few million, about what it was in the early
>>Paleolithic.
Early Paleolithic was pre-Homo Sapiens;
and hominid population was probably much less than a
million then; I've seen, for example, an
estimate of 125,000.
>spect not many will agree with me. <G>
>
>I would agree with you. I thought about 25 million worldwide was
probably a
>reasonable maximum figure, taking into account resource and genetic
issues.
Meanwhile, the record speaks for itself: almost six billion already,
and still going strong. In fact, stronger than ever.
True, population growth is currently slowing down - but not
because it is limited by any resources: the
consumption growth is accelerating. This species,
unlike any other, has been consistently
*rewarded* for exceeding the "carrying
capacities" calculated by any sort of static analysis.
Conclusion: the carrying capacity for Homo *Sapiens* -
or for any sapient species - is, for all practical purposes,
infinite. Such species "live by their wits" - other so-miscalled
"natural" resources are created as needed.
Their shortage (always temporary)
serves only as a salutary guiding signal for evolving
technologies.
At the time of early Paleolithic, these roots of subsequent
unstoppable growth were already in place; but by now, they
have grown so robust that the future capacity of
unlimited growth - as far as natural limits are
concened - is not in doubt. Any danger to human growth
and existence itself can only come from within now.
References: