[cee_el123]

I think this is correct as long as survival is a personal goal.

However IMO civilization overall needs all the scientific and technological advancement possible, and then some more - if it is to survive beyond the next 50-60 years. ( 50-60 yrs : a guesstimate of how long the earth will remain habitable )

[gmanley]

Are you really suggesting that at the current rate earth will only remain habitable for 50-60 more years? Even the most dire predictions, that I have seen, don't have a timeline like that. Unless we have a full out nuclear war or a giant meteor hits, I don't see how that could be the case. Habitable being that humans can no longer live on it at all.

[borkt]

Maybe OP is referencing soil health? Not saying I agree but I've seen similar numbers there.

[gmanley]

Interesting. We not being able to grow food is a show stopper. I'll have to look into that more.

[cee_el123]

I guess 50 yrs is too dire.

However IMO the direst predictions you refer to are probably assuming a continuation of the current levels of resource consumption/ecosystem destruction.

But IMO it's far more likely that resource consumption in all its forms will keep increasing at a breakneck pace with every technological advance - thus accelerating the march to uninhabitability.