Can pollution problems be effectively solved by environmental science and technology? An analysis of critical limitations

摘要

It is currently believed that science and technology can provide effective solutions to most, if not all, environmental problems facing western industrial societies. The validity of this optimistic assumption is highly questionable for at least three reasons: First, current mechanistic, reductionist science is inherently incapable of providing the complete and accurate information which is required to successfully address environmental problems. Second, both the conservation of mass principle and the second law of thermodynamics dictate that most remediation technologies- while successful in solving specific pollution problems-cause unavoidable negative environmental impacts elsewhere or in the future.