Simon (Ref. 24) says (W)e would be able to go on increasing our ...

[Kthamas]

Simon (Ref. 24) says (W)e would be able to go on increasing our population forever. Could his statement have been made in earnest? Why or why not?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Lovins' soft energy path would lead to decentralization of energy production and distribution. List at least two reasons each why this could be a good, or a bad, thing.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[mariahkathleeen]

Answer to Question 1

Simon apparently did believe this to be a true statement. However, he confounds
physical limits with those artificial limits of human beings. Indefinite population growth is
not sustainable. In a relatively few doubling times, human beings could constitute as much
mass as out Milky Way galaxy. Then what, Prof. Simon?

Answer to Question 2

Good: enhance individual control and freedom, pay true costs of service, lessen
possibility for gouging, etc.
Bad: loss of economies of scale, greater overall cost, needless duplication of equipment, etc.