Hey–Who’s Winning That Battle Between Education and Catastrophe?
Yesterday we mentioned this amazing quote from H.G. Wells (photo below):“Civilization is in a race between education and catastrophe. Let us learn the truth and spread it as far and wide as our circumstances allow. For the truth is the greatest weapon we have.”
Here’s an article in the Washington Post that points out exactly how we’re doing along these lines. The bottom line is that Americans generally believe a wide variety of ideas that are laughably, provably false–yet they don’t normally pertain to trivial matters, but rather to things that carry huge importance regarding the form of government we choose.
Of course, this is just a corollary to our disdain for science generally. 
We’re much more likely to believe politicians than we are scientists on matters where the two hold differing viewpoints. Is this because we, even the idiots among us, consider that politicians have good track records for telling the truth? No, we tend to believe what we hear most often, as well as things that jibe with what we already believe about a certain subject. E.g., a huge number of the people who don’t like Hillary Clinton have no problem whatsoever believing she runs a ring of pedophiles and child pornographers.
So we dabble (actually “frolic” may be a better word) in ignorance. Does that mean our civilization is doomed? Probably. That’s why happy hour in bars and restaurants starts earlier each year. Bloody Marys with breakfast? Most certainly. Start me off with two, please, and we’ll see where we take it from there.
Seriously, we all have a great deal of work to do if we’re going to turn this around.
Hi Craig.
I will confine my comments to a single topic of immense interest to me; ‘greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel power generation and fuel oil reciprocating engines, and the key aspects of the immediate future global energy imperative to ameliorate these crippling emissions to insignificant levels permanently’.
Craig considering your age and status, it might be reasonable to assume that by now you would have a near forensic understanding of people, and in particular that history has shown us that human nature being what it is: ‘… an untenable situation will not end until it has to’.
This is an important reality that is being exemplified precisely and predictably in the context of the now critical global greenhouse gas emissions issue which is heading towards an ‘untenable situation’ status.
So ‘… an untenable situation will not end until it has to’; need not be all gloom and doom or be as bad as it sounds to the experienced eye. In fact the opposite is true; it exposes (at the right time) an intrinsic ‘rallying and mobilising’ collective strength of human nature.
Timing is everything.
You on the other hand, sound personally defeated and disillusioned with just about everything (as opposed to being a buoyant professionally detached skilled commentator operating from a lofty perch) this might fairly imply that you are in fact simply another member of that same ordinary ‘persons and thinkers’ club that you ostensively condemn in your musings.
Focussed; skilled; and experienced professionally detached leaders don’t struggle at all with the sort of personal struggles you experience and constantly espouse.
And it is for these very reasons that the ordinary people amongst us globally (and that includes you and me) are not ultimate decision makers (nor meaningful influencers at any level) when it comes to the immediate future of global power generation technologies that will satisfy the critical imperatives that must be satisfied for all people going forward.
These coming soon ‘new age energy technology foundation decisions’ are in the hands of those who can and do deliver, and number probably no more than 50,000 focussed; skilled; and experienced professionally detached leaders, scientists and engineers; globally.
They are not interested at all in the (mainly fake and unsubstantiated nonsense banter and opinions) of those beyond their capable select group.
‘… an untenable situation will not end until it has to’; and timing is everything.
Lawrence Coomber
Lawrence,
A very astute observation.
Craig,
Good heavens Craig, you do seem down in the dumps!
Cheer up, everywhere around you is evidence of exciting progress and opportunities. So what if the fashion changes, it’s mostly superficial and cyclical. Perhaps it’s time to adapt the song and the singer to changing circumstance.
So things aren’t going exactly as you would wish, that’s no reason to lose heart, rent your garments, don sack cloth and ashes while berating the world for it’s wickedness in not adhering to your viewpoint.
Perhaps it’s a wake up call ! Maybe it’s time to change the style of your advocacy, not the content, but freshen and adapt the presentation ?
Doomsday prophesies have been around since the dawn of time. The end of civilization has been the catch cry of those who haven’t moved with the times (and the over excited ) in each decade of human existence.
The Roman writer Horace complained, “Our sires’ age was worse than our grandsires’. We, their sons, are more worthless than they; so in our turn we shall give the world a progeny yet more
corrupt”.
In the July 1859 issue, Scientific American rallied against a wicked game, Chess as making both the mind and body weaker !
“A pernicious excitement to learn and play chess has spread all over the country, and numerous clubs for practicing this game have been formed in cities and villages…chess is a mere amusement of a very inferior character, which robs the mind of valuable time that might be devoted to nobler acquirements, while it affords no benefit whatever to the body. Chess has acquired a high reputation as being a means to discipline the mind, but persons engaged in sedentary occupations should never practice this cheerless game; they require out-door exercises–not this sort of mental gladiatorship”.
Want a good laugh ? View some U Tube compilations of hysterical and over the top reactions by otherwise serious people at Trump’s victory.
I know it’s hard to lose, or seeing expectations go unfulfilled and discarded, but it’s no good throwing a tantrum, sulking and sitting around with a few like-minded cronies, bemoaning that all is corruption and decay.
It’s time to seize the opportunities to try out a new sales-pitch.
Maybe it’s time to tone down the negative political/ideological/ philosophical doctrinaire approach, in favour of a more positive emphasis on the employment and wealth creation opportunities created by clean technology and environmental innovation.
So what if the people (and their representatives) have grown weary of endless sanctimonious lectures about an apocalyptic future ?
Joe public is motivated by self interest. Joe Public has shown he’s tired of self-righteous puritans. No one wants to listen to an endless diatribe of recrimination. (even accompanied by Bloody Marys).
I echo Lawrence in his sentiments, it’s no good being pessimistic, instead seek out the opportunities the changing era can provide.
In July 1962 many of my school friends were fascinated by the Cuban Missile crisis. Being at a conservative boarding school reactions were less hysteric than among younger university students and pupils from more liberal schools where hysteria reigned supreme, especially among the more ideological/politically radical.
Many otherwise intelligent young folk, especially girls, were genuinely convinced that the world was about to end. (I’m afraid I took advantage of this female nativity with all the moral cynicism of a hormonal 15 year old in those repressed times).
Of course the world didn’t end ! 54 years later, I look back on the passion and ardour of that time with the perspective of distance.
It’s not the end of the world, just a change in style and fashion. The substance of the environmental message doesn’t need to alter, just superfluous political/ideological baggage needs to be jettisoned and a new, positive, non-judgemental sales pitch that’s includes the aspirations of everyone needs to be implemented.
Cheer up Craig, great things can yet be accomplished if we all focus on the things that matter.
1) The fact that human predictions have been wrong in the past does imply that they’re wrong today as well.
2) Good point about the Roman orator Horace. But what exactly DID happen to the Roman Empire? Oops.
Craig,
Horace was writing at the birth of the Roman Empire, centuries of greatness led before Rome, and the best aspects of Roman civilization remain with us today.
Yes, it’s true because human predictions have been wrong in the past doesn’t always imply that they’re wrong today as well.
But in your gloom you are forgetting the one bright guiding light that has always served mankind through the darkest hours after the release of Pandora’s box,…hope.
The human species has always remained hopeful, and hope provides the courage to adapt, persevere, ultimately triumph.