Hydrocarbons and Human Flourishing \ stacker news ~AskSN

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1310 sats \ 13 comments \ @kr 6 Sep AskSN

I came across this chart from Alex Epstein which shows a relationship between hydrocarbon use and human flourishing. The claim is that these aren't simply correlations, but that hydrocarbon usage is driving human flourishing.

Will this relationship hold in the future?

Why or why not?

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142 sats \ 3 replies \ @kepford 7 Sep

Its hard to say if it will hold. I think the answer is in another question. Have we found a better source for the material and energy of our societies. I don't think we have yet. Maybe we are in the early stages but I think it's too soon to say with confidence.

79 sats \ 2 replies \ @kr OP 7 Sep

Yeah just assuming humans keep finding new, more powerful sources of energy has me skeptical that this trend will hold... but I'm also skeptical that energy usage will continue to be so strongly correlated to human flourishing.

For almost all of human history, we have struggled to secure enough resources on demand, and more energy usage typically meant more likelihood of securing those resources.

But this is the first generation ever where we're truly living in a world of abundance. The issue (for nearly everyone in the developed world) isn't a lack of food, water, shelter, etc. More energy doesn't pack the same punch it used to.

54 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined 7 Sep

Don't ignore the material part, though.

Even after we've found superior energy sources, hydrocarbons will still be heavily used to produce stuff. And, since they have fairly unique material properties, I don't think that will just be correlation either.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford 7 Sep

Exactly

10 sats \ 4 replies \ @Solomonsatoshi 7 Sep

Yes all that stored energy we are harnessing has quite logically created huge wealth and well being, but the risk is that it is disrupting the entire global climate balance and triggering catastrophic volatility which will come at a significant cost.

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @kepford 7 Sep

Do you think humanity will actually believe this? And I don't mean in surveys or when you have coffee with them. But when they make decisions. Talk is cheap and hear a lot of talk and I rarely see people that actually live like they believe we are headed to disaster.

I'm not saying we are or aren't. But I wonder if people really believe what they hear and say.

What say you?

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Solomonsatoshi 7 Sep

Climate change is already scientifically proven to be occurring. You can quibble the precise degree and extent but it is happening already. People can close their minds to the proven science and some do, for various reasons, but that doesn't change the reality we face.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @kepford 7 Sep

You didn't answer my question. Do you think humanity will actually believe this and change? There are many things we know but you'd never know it by our actions.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Solomonsatoshi 7 Sep

I did answer your question. Just read my answer again if you missed it the first time.

Note- humanity is not a unified entity however nearly all governments globally have signed the Paris Agreement except a few rogue states who have not.

This is not a problem that can be or ever will be fixed by 'market forces' or individual choices but inherently requires action by government leadership and collective response- you may find that reality challenging too and it may cause some to remain unable to act. But already most governments have at least recognised the science and the need to take action.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @2053456d48 7 Sep

I think correlation between hydrocarbon and human flourishing will hold true in future as well. As it's a source of energy, we will be using it until we have better alternatives.