Our greatest shortcoming is our inability to understand the exponential function
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Re: Our greatest shortcoming is our inability to understand the exponential function
#2The best illustration of the concept, imo, is that with sustained 1.3%/year world population growth, we'll reach a population density of 1 person per square meter of land in only 780 years.
Re: Our greatest shortcoming is our inability to understand the exponential function
#3I've thought about his point that lowering the death rate makes the problem of population growth worse a lot, especially in the context of Africa and the like.
"Oh they're starving because they get almost no rain, so that land really shouldn't support anywhere near as many people as are there. Let's give them food aid."
10 years elapse, and say they're getting 7% per year growth thanks to food aid keeping them from starving, lack of contraception, etc.
"Oh, there's twice as many of them now, so they're starving despite our current food aid. Double the food aid!"
Repeat until you realize that you can't double the food aid forever.
Re: Our greatest shortcoming is our inability to understand the exponential function
#4I've thought about his point that lowering the death rate makes the problem of population growth worse a lot, especially in the context of Africa and the like. "Oh they're starving because they get almost no rain, so that land really shouldn't support anywhere near as many people as are there. Let's give them food aid." 10 years elapse, and say they're getting 7% per year growth thanks to food aid keeping them from s…
The trick is realizing that the last 3 words of your third sentence are the most important part of your slightly offensive post. That, and education.
Starving a people until they can eat off of the barren land they inhabit is certainly one way of taking care of the problem. Educating them on the merits of contraceptives, and teaching them how to use their land to greater effect is another.
Re: Our greatest shortcoming is our inability to understand the exponential function
#5I've thought about his point that lowering the death rate makes the problem of population growth worse a lot, especially in the context of Africa and the like. "Oh they're starving because they get almost no rain, so that land really shouldn't support anywhere near as many people as are there. Let's give them food aid." 10 years elapse, and say they're getting 7% per year growth thanks to food aid keeping them from s…
Re: Our greatest shortcoming is our inability to understand the exponential function
#6I've thought about his point that lowering the death rate makes the problem of population growth worse a lot, especially in the context of Africa and the like. "Oh they're starving because they get almost no rain, so that land really shouldn't support anywhere near as many people as are there. Let's give them food aid." 10 years elapse, and say they're getting 7% per year growth thanks to food aid keeping them from s…
Then send them yams and pomegranates. ;)
(For those unaware, they both contain progesterone; wild yams were the first plant to be used in synthesis of birth control pills.)
Re: Our greatest shortcoming is our inability to understand the exponential function
#7The best illustration of the concept, imo, is that with sustained 1.3%/year world population growth, we'll reach a population density of 1 person per square meter of land in only 780 years.
give me some context; how many meters per a person are we at currently? / Then give me some focus; what will it be at in my life span... 50 years?
Re: Our greatest shortcoming is our inability to understand the exponential function
#8Definitely worth watching the entire series, but for those looking to save time: the first video covers the main point and the subsequent videos in the series just reinforce its significance.
Re: Our greatest shortcoming is our inability to understand the exponential function
#9I'm curious what the average price of gall bladder surgery is now. In it his students project 25K by 2000, which we are obviously quite a way past. If you're uninsured, this amount sounds about right likely these days.
Great video. I'm on part 2 and I'll finish the rest in the morning.
Re: Our greatest shortcoming is our inability to understand the exponential function
#10I've thought about his point that lowering the death rate makes the problem of population growth worse a lot, especially in the context of Africa and the like. "Oh they're starving because they get almost no rain, so that land really shouldn't support anywhere near as many people as are there. Let's give them food aid." 10 years elapse, and say they're getting 7% per year growth thanks to food aid keeping them from s…
The trick is realizing that the last 3 words of your third sentence are the most important part of your slightly offensive post. That, and education. Starving a people until they can eat off of the barren land they inhabit is certainly one way of taking care of the problem. Educating them on the merits of contraceptives, and teaching them how to use their land to greater effect is another.
It's not as easy as giving them contraceptives. Culture and pragmatism both frequently encourage large families.
For example, farming families have major incentives to have large families so that the kids can help with the farming tasks. So you'll need a China-like child limit or some other way to incentivize them to actually use the contraception you provide.