The video points out rising population and globalization, both of which I see as the catalysts for war. When population reaches a point where providing enough materials isn't feasible through trade (high prices) then the easiest way would be to invade, kill off, and take resources

You aren't accounting for the innovative capacity of scientists and the market to find solutions to the problem. Increased quality of infrastructure and education leads to longer lifespans and fewer children, while the production of low-cost energy, desalination technology and agricultural game-changers all allow us to facilitate an increased population.

That's exactly what the market does: finds demand, and supplies.

But there's still the idea the demand exceeds the supply as the supply is still crude. under development, and expensive

Which leads to the refinement of supply. If the demand didn't exceed supply, then there'd be no substantial development; there'd be no raison d'etre for improvement.

If we do not solve our overpopulation problem

There isn't one.

Quote from: Meta Cognition on November 07, 2014, 01:44:45 PM

Quote from: Lemy the Lizerd on November 07, 2014, 01:33:47 PM

If we do not solve our overpopulation problem

There isn't one.

In the west.

Have you seen Africa lately? Exponential growth doesn't really cut it here .-.

Let's say the African population were somehow halved.

Do you think the poorest, most hungry and destitute part of the population would then have a decent enough access to food in order to be raised out of poverty?

The problem is access, not quantity.

I don't disagree, but there comes a point when there are simply more people than can be sustained in one given country. I'm sure science and business will find a way to counter the problem, but even then there is a biomass limit for the planet <_<

Technology has a funny way of helping us avert this doomsday scenario.

This idea that humans are becoming overpopulated has been around since Thomas Malthus in 1798, who argued for killing the poor. If there is a limit, we're nowhere near it. You could comfortably fit the entire planet's population in Texas.

War will never be over. I'm sure it's been predicted many times before that war will be obsolete.

You could comfortably fit the entire planet's population in Texas.

That's just being mean to the world.

Quote from: Mr Psychologist on November 07, 2014, 03:26:17 PM

I don't disagree, but there comes a point when there are simply more people than can be sustained in one given country. I'm sure science and business will find a way to counter the problem, but even then there is a biomass limit for the planet <_<

Technology has a funny way of helping us avert this doomsday scenario.

This idea that humans are becoming overpopulated has been around since Thomas Malthus in 1798, who argued for killing the poor. If there is a limit, we're nowhere near it. You could comfortably fit the entire planet's population in Texas.

Boserup argued Malthus' theory that populations would self-regulate to fit with supply and demand. She said when the population rose above and beyond the supply, technology would be improved/investments in research to make supply higher/more efficient to overcome it.

Of course the idea sounds a bit preposterous as technology can't always save our asses, but we can kinda see it today with GM crops, the first and second Green Revolutions, hydro and aeroponic agriculture, etc..

The only thing we haven't improved dramatically is transport and distribution, though fuel efficient vehicles, renewable energy sources to power vehicles and a mild space-race is picking up the pace in that regard.