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The Myth of Progress : Toward a Sustainable Future /

In this compelling and cogently argued book, Tom Wessels demonstrates how our current path toward progress, based on continual economic expansion and inefficient use of resources, runs absolutely contrary to three foundational scientific laws that govern all complex natural systems. It is a myth, he...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Clasificación:Libro Electrónico
Autor principal: Wessels, Tom, 1951- (Autor)
Formato: Electrónico eBook
Idioma:Inglés
Publicado: Baltimore, Maryland : Project Muse, 2013
Edición:Revised and expanded edition.
Colección:Book collections on Project MUSE.
Temas:
Acceso en línea:Texto completo

MARC

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100 1 |a Wessels, Tom,  |d 1951-  |e author. 
245 1 4 |a The Myth of Progress :   |b Toward a Sustainable Future /   |c Tom Wessels. 
250 |a Revised and expanded edition. 
264 1 |a Baltimore, Maryland :  |b Project Muse,  |c 2013 
264 3 |a Baltimore, Md. :  |b Project MUSE,   |c 2013 
264 4 |c ©2013 
300 |a 1 online resource (176 pages). 
336 |a text  |b txt  |2 rdacontent 
337 |a computer  |b c  |2 rdamedia 
338 |a online resource  |b cr  |2 rdacarrier 
500 |a Issued as part of book collections on Project MUSE. 
504 |a Includes bibliographical references and index. 
505 0 |a Prologue -- Introduction -- 1. The myth of control : complex versus linear systems -- 2. The myth of growth : limits and sustainability -- 3. The myth of energy : the second law of thermodynamics -- 4. The myth of the free market : the loss of diversity and democracy -- 5. The myth of progress : a need for cultural change -- Epilogue : From consumption to connection -- Glossary of scientific terms -- Index. 
506 |a Access restricted to authorized users and institutions. 
520 |a In this compelling and cogently argued book, Tom Wessels demonstrates how our current path toward progress, based on continual economic expansion and inefficient use of resources, runs absolutely contrary to three foundational scientific laws that govern all complex natural systems. It is a myth, he contends, that progress depends on a growing economy. Wessels explains his theory with his three laws of sustainability: (1) the law of limits to growth, (2) the second law of thermodynamics, which exposes the dangers of increased energy consumption, and (3) the law of self-organization, which results in the marvelous diversity of such highly evolved systems as the human body and complex ecosystems. These laws, scientifically proven to sustain life in its myriad forms, have been cast aside since the eighteenth century, first by Western economists, political pragmatists, and governments attracted by the idea of unlimited growth, and more recently by a global economy dominated by large corporations, in which consolidation and oversimplification create large-scale inefficiencies in both material and energy usage. Wessels makes scientific theory readily accessible by offering examples of how the laws of sustainability function in the complex systems we can observe in the natural world around us. He shows how systems such as forests can be templates for developing sustainable economic practices that will allow true progress. Demonstrating that all environmental problems have their source in a disregard for the laws of sustainability that is based on the myth of progress, he concludes with an impassioned argument for cultural change. 
588 |a Description based on print version record. 
650 0 |a Sustainable development. 
650 0 |a Environmental policy. 
650 0 |a Ecology. 
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710 2 |a Project Muse,  |e distributor. 
776 1 8 |i Print version:  |z 9781611684162 
710 2 |a Project Muse.  |e distributor 
830 0 |a Book collections on Project MUSE. 
856 4 0 |z Texto completo  |u https://projectmuse.uam.elogim.com/book/26916/ 
945 |a Project MUSE - Custom Collection 
945 |a Project MUSE - 2013 Complete 
945 |a Project MUSE - 2013 Ecology and Evolution