Abstract
The twentieth century was a period of unprecedented economic expansion, population growth, and technological progress. All that generated great optimism in the future of humankind, an attitude that was especially prevalent in the years after the Second World War. The economic growth experienced up to then was seen as the natural state of things, while population growth was not perceived as a problem. Space travel, flying cars, extension of human lifespan, energy “too cheap to meter,” and many other technological wonders were seen as around the corner.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bailey, Ronald, 1989. “Dr. Doom” Forbes, Oct 16, p. 45
Busby, S., 2006. “Pure Charity” http://www.after-oil.co.uk/charity.htm (accessed 04 Sep 10)
Gardner, Toby, 2004. ‘Limits to Growth? A Perspective on the Perpetual Debate’, Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, 1, 2, 121–138
Heinberg, Richard, 2010. “Beyond the Limits to Growth” Post Carbon Institute, Founation series concepts. Jul 28 issue, http://www.postcarbon.org/report/122404-foundation-concepts-beyond-the-limits-to (accessed 06 Sep 2010)
Meadows, D.H., Randers, J., Meadows, D.L., 2004. Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update Chelsea Green, White River Junction, VT
Nebbia, G., 2001. “Twenty twenty five” Futures, 33 p 43–54
Popper, S.W. Lempert, R.J, Bankes S.C. 2005 “Shaping the Future”, Scientific American, 292 (4):66–71
Radetzki, M.N., 2010. “Peak Oil and other threatening peaks—Chimeras without substance” Energy policy, in press
Turner, G.M., 2008. “A comparison of The Limits to Growth with 30 years of reality” Global Environmental Change 18 (2008) 397–411
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Ugo Bardi
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bardi, U. (2011). Introduction. In: The Limits to Growth Revisited. SpringerBriefs in Energy(). Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9416-5_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9416-5_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-9415-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-9416-5
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)