Monday, November 28, 2016

Episode 34: Human Up - The Planet's Future with David Grinspoon


Released: 28 November 2016
Duration: 59 minutes, 2 seconds

Download the .mp3 audio file
David Grinspoon

Astrobiologist and Author David Grinspoon joins us to talk about his new book, Earth in Human Hands - Shaping Our Planet's Future. Following all the great demotions, humanity is about to get a great promotion - and we're not ready for it, but we have no choice.

Links:


Credits:

Host and Producer: Paul Carr
Announcer: Erin Carr
Music: DJ Spooky, Erika Lloyd, George Hrab





2 comments:

  1. I'll point to two key foundations of Dr Grinspoon's thinking on the subject:
    1) Dr Grinspoon is one of the few scientists who properly grasps what should be obvious to the science: humans are natural, not extra-natural part of Earth's ecosystem and as such inevitably impact this system back, which is neither good or bad by itself-it is just a fact of life. Pristine Earth is one with humans and results of their existence on it.
    2) Where I disagree with him is on the next step. He is convinced that social/ethical constructs can be used to limit basic biological wants, needs, drives... to shape the future. I am of a more Naturalist mindset on this-that we need to shape our social/ethical constructs in a way that the basic biological drives are satisfied or the system will be unsustainable.
    (Practical example for the later: Chinese one child policy to stem population growth-not only did it harm population in many direct ways but it produced inevitable side-consequences as recent report of tens of millions missing girls over that policy times hints).

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for you comments. I am looking for follow up questions for David, so if you can put @) in the form of a question, I will add it to my list.

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