Category Archives: Critical Thinking

Some of the posts are examples of critical thinking, rather than being about critical thinking

Richard Heinberg: Systemic change driven by moral awakening is our only hope

Posted on June 6, 2018 by

[ Although this was written over a year ago on August 14, 2017 by Richard Heinberg on Ecowatch, it’s as true today as it was then, and worth republishing since people forget what they’ve read in the past Alice Friedemann   … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Critical Thinking, Overpopulation, Overshoot, Population, Richard Heinberg | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

Why facts don’t change our mind

Posted on April 17, 2018 by

[ Below are excerpts from this article.  Longish descriptions of various studies at Stanford and elsewhere lead to conclusions such as Once formed impressions are remarkably perseverant Even after the evidence for their beliefs has been totally refuted, people failed … Continue reading →

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Rob Mielcarski: You know you are in trouble when…

Posted on October 19, 2017 by

[ This is from the outstanding blog by Rob Mielcarski (un-denial.com) which you can see here.  I cant think of anything he’s left out… Alice Friedemann   www.energyskeptic.com  author of “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future of Transportation”, 2015, … Continue reading →

Posted in Conserve Energy, Critical Thinking, Population, What to do | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Why and how authoritarian evangelicals threaten Democracy

Posted on September 15, 2017 by

Preface. This is a book review of “Conservatives without Conscience” by John Dean. It is the best book I’ve read in explaining the history of conservatism and leaders like Newt Gingrich on the increasing authoritarianism of Republicans, It also explains … Continue reading →

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Robert Rapier on why “fuel from CO2” breakthrough won’t work

Posted on July 26, 2017 by

Robert Rapier. Oct 27, 2016.  Ethanol From Carbon Dioxide Is Still A Losing Proposition. energytrendinsider.com If I told you that I had created a process to extract pure gold from seawater, you might deem it an amazing accomplishment. If I … Continue reading →

Posted in Biofuels, Biomass EROI, Critical Thinking, Far Out, Other Experts | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Ugo Bardi: Turn CO2 into ethanol

Posted on July 17, 2017 by

Ugo Bardi. October 22, 2016. The mother of all promises and how science failed to maintain it. Cassandra’s Legacy. The latest scientific claim that went viral on the web is about a catalyst able to turn CO2 directly into ethanol. … Continue reading →

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Pessimism and Optimism versus Ignorance

Posted on November 6, 2016 by

Below are my thoughts about whether views based on scientific evidence can be labeled optimistic or pessimistic. Skeptical energy news: 2017-2-7 Renewable Lies And The Deception Of Dutch Commuters Alice Friedemann   www.energyskeptic.com  author of “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and … Continue reading →

Posted in 2) Collapse, Critical Thinking | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Telling others about peak oil and limits to growth

Posted on August 21, 2016 by

[ Obviously the planet is finite. We’re using many times more oil than we’re discovering, and therefore at some point global oil production will peak and decline.  Yet even in 2016 this reality is denied by most, so much so … Continue reading →

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Limited Cognition

Posted on August 20, 2016 by

Gifford, R. May 2011. The Dragons of Inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation.  PubMed. Limited cognition.  Humans are far less rational than once believed.  1: Ancient brain Our physical brain hasn’t evolved much in 30,000 years. … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Critical Thinking | Comments Off on Limited Cognition

Who Killed the Electric Car and more importantly, the Electric Truck?

Posted on March 22, 2016 by

Preface. Who cares about electric cars?  Civilization ends when trucks stop running, and trucks can’t run on batteries because they’re too heavy (93% of the cargo weight, 25% of the cargo space), and an all-electric truck fleet would require thousands … Continue reading →

Posted in Automobiles, Batteries, Critical Thinking, Electric trucks impossible, Electrification, Transportation, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Who Killed the Electric Car and more importantly, the Electric Truck?