Emerging Dynamics: Science, Energy, Society and Values

Dedication

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

Contents

Chapter 1: Arrows of Time

1.1 From the Beginning of the Universe to Homo sapiens

1.2 Increasing Complexity and Disorder

1.3 Everything Changes and Evolves

1.3.1 Everything Changes

1.3.2 Everything Evolves

1.3.2.1 The Universe Has Evolved

1.3.2.2 The Earth Has Evolved

1.3.2.3 Life on Earth Has Evolved

1.3.2.4 Humanity Has Evolved

1.3.2.5 The Closeness of Life

1.3.2.6 Common Descent

1.3.2.7 Evolution

1.4 An Historic Perspective

1.4.1 Physical, Biological and Structural Uniformity of Living Organisms

1.4.2 Societal Complexity

Chapter 2: Distinct Characteristics of Modern Civilization

2.1 The Prevalent Impact of Science and Science-Based Technology

2.1.1 Biology, Medicine and Biotechnology

2.2 The Fundamental Role of Energy

2.2.1 The Significance of Energy for Civilization

2.3 Distinct Characteristics of Modern Civilization Related to Energy

2.3.1 Increase in World Population

2.3.2 Increase in Urban Population

2.3.3 Increase in the Consumption of Energy, Principally Fossil Fuels

2.3.4 Increase in Resource Consumption and the Consequential Increase in Environmental Pollution and Climate Change

2.3.5 The Increased “Negative” Use of Energy (Increased Use of Energy for Destruction and War)

2.3.6 Increase of Societal Complexity

2.3.7 Increased Gap in the Standard of Living Between the Energy Rich and the Energy Poor Peoples

2.3.8 Resource Consumption and Sustainability of Modern Civilization

2.3.8.1 Tame Consumerism

2.3.8.2 Conserve Energy

2.3.8.3 Increase Food Production

Chapter 3: Science

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Meaning of Knowing

3.2.1 The Inductive Method of Science

3.2.2 Reductionism and Holism

3.2.3 The Indirect and the Complicated

3.3 The Nature of Truth and the Image of Reality

3.4 The Laws and Concepts of Science (Physics)

3.5 Distinct Characteristics of Science

3.6 The Universality of Science

3.6.1 Limits to the Universality of Science

3.6.2 Needs of the Universality of Science

3.7 Science and Society

3.7.1 The Scientist

3.7.2 Scientist and Society

3.7.2.1 Mutual Responsibility

3.7.2.2 Needs of Scientists and Society

3.7.3 The Scientist as Policy Advisor and as Advocate

Chapter 4: Scientific and Technological Frontiers

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Scientific and Technological Frontiers

4.2.1 Complexity

4.2.1.1 Complexity in Nature

4.2.1.2 Complexity in Society and Values

4.2.2 Molecular Genetics and Molecular Medicine

4.2.3 New Materials

4.2.3.1 Nanomaterials

4.2.3.2 High-Temperature Superconductors

4.2.4 Energy (New Sources, New Carriers, New Transformations of Energy, and New Ethical Issues)

4.2.4.1 Future Energy Sources and Needs

4.2.4.2 A Unique Form of Energy: Light

4.2.4.3 The Concept of Energy and Its Philosophical Dimension

4.2.4.4 The Energy-Climate Era

Chapter 5: Values of Society and Science

5.1 Introduction

5.2 The Precepts and Concepts of Values

5.3 Traditional Human Values

5.3.1 Values of Faiths and Cultures

5.3.1.1 Values of Faiths

5.3.1.2 Values of Cultures

5.3.2 Contextualization of Values

5.4 Universal, Common and Complementary Values

5.4.1 Universal Values

5.4.2 Common Values

5.4.3 Complementary Values

5.5 Values of and in Science

5.5.1 Values in Science

5.5.2 Values of Science

5.6 The Impact of Science on Values

5.7 The Future of Values

Chapter 6: Boundaries of Science

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Scientific Questions Without Scientific Answers

6.3 Extrapolation of Scientific Knowledge

6.4 Examples of Extreme Cases of Scientific Reductionism and Inductive Extrapolation Therefrom

Chapter 7: Energy

7.1 Introduction

7.1.1 The Fundamental Role of Energy

7.1.2 Energy for Civilization

7.2 Primary Energy Sources

7.2.1 Energy for Today and for Tomorrow

7.2.2 Fossil Fuels; Mainly Coal, Oil and Natural Gas

7.2.2.1 Coal

7.2.2.2 Oil

7.2.2.3 Natural Gas

7.2.3 Renewable Energy Sources, Mostly Hydroelectric, Solar, Wind, Biofuels and Geothermal

7.2.3.1 Hydroelectric Power

7.2.3.2 Solar Energy

7.2.3.3 The Role of Light

7.2.3.4 Energy from Controlled Nuclear Fusion Using Laser Light

7.2.3.5 Wind

7.2.3.6 Biofuels

7.2.3.7 Geothermal

7.2.3.8 Other Renewable Energy Sources

7.2.4 Nuclear Power, from Nuclear Fission and, in the Future, from Nuclear Fusion

7.2.4.1 Additional Nuclear Options (Breeder Reactors)

7.2.4.2 Nuclear Energy from Nuclear Fusion

7.2.5 Trends in Primary Energy Consumption by Fuel and Emerging Primary Energy Mix

7.2.6 Energy Conservation

7.3 Electricity

7.3.1 Need for Energy Storage

7.3.1.1 Energy Storage Options

7.3.1.2 Smart Grids (for Transmission and Distribution)

7.3.2 Electrical Energy Transmission and Distribution

7.4 Energy and Poverty

7.4.1 The Fundamental Role of Electricity

7.4.2 The Poor Regions of the Earth and their Need for Energy: Today’s Reality

7.4.2.1 What Is it in for Today’s Poor?

7.4.2.2 Supply of Electricity to the Energy-Impoverished Regions of the Earth

7.5 Energy and Beyond: Conditions for Sustainability of Modern Civilization

Chapter 8: The Future: QUO VADIS HOMO SAPIENS?

8.1 Change and Its Challenges

8.1.1 Future Scientific and Technological Frontiers and Their Challenges

8.1.2 Change Our Perception of Resources

8.2 Toward a Better Future

8.2.1 From a World of Fear to a World of Hope

8.2.2 Uphold the Image of Man and Respect His Dignity

8.2.3 Society: From Conflict to Complementarity

8.3 A Hopeful Future Based on Science and Values

Appendix: Energy: Scientific, Philosophical and Theological Dimension1

Introduction

The Beginning and the Evolution of the Universe

Energy at the Beginning and from the Beginning of the Universe

The Philosophical Dimension of Energy

Aristotle’s Philosophy on Energy and Its Relationship to the Current Scientific View

The Philosophical / Theological Dimension of Energy

The Scientific, the Philosophical and the Christian Perspective

Towards the Whole: Beyond Science

Index