Let's Do Better in Limiting Material Growth to Conserve Our Earth's Resources

摘要

At least in Western cultures, it seems that we are taught from childhood that growth in all things is inherently good. This thought is so ingrained in our make-ups that we rarely pay it any mind but subconsciously accept it as a truism to live by. The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which we should continue to subscribe to this view, or whether we need to change our mindset for the long-term benefit of humanity on this planet. If the questioning of this idea is too foreign for us to even contemplate, we should at least try to educate our emotions about this controversial subject to better understand why we continue to resist reason in favor of our gut or knee-jerk reaction that inhibits taking action to improve the sustainability of human life on Earth. This paper is written as a dialogue among fictitious interested parties in an attempt to provide a more balanced treatment while enlivening the debate in showcasing some passionate viewpoints. Complex systems engineering principles and research ideas are infused.