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What will we do as a civilization when we double our population?

HeXen

HeXen

Diamond Member
I remember when the estimate human population was 6 billion. Now it's 7.3 billion. Let's say mass extinction or huge plagues won't happen for thousands of years. Once we reach 14 billion people and higher, what do you think we'll be forced to do as a civilization? Or do you think we'll decline in population overall? Certainly our growth rate has it's ups and downs.


Here's some of our problems that will be challenged as I see it.
*We place a much higher value of our own species than any other.
*We are an invasive species
*We are aggressive and belligerent which leads to us fighting with each other over moral/ethical decisions.

I'm not sure if it's realistic to believe that we'll just move to outer space, that's likely thousands of years away imo. Do you think the world will ever be forced into controlling how many kids people can have?

Here's 3 estimated scenerio's

FutWorldPop.gif


current-pop-jpeg.jpg
 
Simple, we'll implement birth restrictions. A limit of two children per couple will keep a population stable or slightly decreasing, and that's what most families in the developed world are heading towards anyway. Japan's rate is actually negative, and ours is going down slowly.

Also this will be a localized problem. Countries will rule of law will be far better off than those without.
 
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irishScott said:
Also this will be a localized problem. Countries will rule of law will be far better off than those without.
Click to expand...

Don't know about that. You see what's going on in Europe. When the hoardes start overrunning your borders, you either deal with having your country shitted up, or employ extreme violence to stop them.
 
irishScott said:
Simple, we'll implement birth restrictions. A limit of two children per couple will keep a population stable or slightly decreasing, and that's what most families in the developed world are heading towards anyway. Japan's rate is actually negative, and ours is going down slowly.

Also this will be a localized problem. Countries will rule of law will be far better off than those without.
Click to expand...

Ask China how its one child policy went.
 
I think Birth Rates are going to decline. The more we can Economically Develop the Third World the more decline we'll see.
 
sdifox said:
Ask China how its one child policy went.
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That's why you need a two child policy and better enforcement. Oh and it helps to live in an enlightened culture where couples don't get underground abortions just because it's a girl.

I'm not saying it would be easy, the penalties for having more than two kids would have to be harsh, and/or the incentives to only have two extremely strong. But if humanity has proven anything it's that extreme measures aren't an issue when our backs are against a wall.
 
A few hundred years ago, Malthus covered this pretty well...
Malthus_PL_en.svg

Malthus
... the increase of population is necessarily limited by the means of subsistence, That population does invariably increase when the means of subsistence increase, and, That the superior power of population is repressed, and the actual population kept equal to the means of subsistence, by misery and vice.[7]

Still, I wouldn't worry about it. If you believe the popular politicians, the science is already settled. And Climate Change is going to kill us all...

Uno😎
 
sandorski said:
I think Birth Rates are going to decline. The more we can Economically Develop the Third World the more decline we'll see.
Click to expand...

Birth rates have been declining consistently for more than 60 years. CBR has dropped from 37+ in 1955 to to around 19 today and is expected to keep falling.

And those that want to cite Malthus, or Paul Ehrlich or any of the other Henny Penny doom mongers, science has been laughing at those guys for decades and will laugh even louder at any nutjob that uses those now dis-proven theories as a source for why the Earth is supposedly in trouble. As population growth continues to decline food production continues to increase. We're squeezing out half as many rugrats as 50 years ago and growing 25% more food. If the world didn't starve to death then, we're sure as shit not in any danger of it happening now. We're already at something like a 20% food glut, the world produces 20% more food than it currently needs and each year the food to person ratio gets better, not worse.
 
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HeXen said:
I remember when the estimate human population was 6 billion. Now it's 7.3 billion. Let's say mass extinction or huge plagues won't happen for thousands of years. Once we reach 14 billion people and higher, what do you think we'll be forced to do as a civilization? Or do you think we'll decline in population overall? Certainly our growth rate has it's ups and downs.


Here's some of our problems that will be challenged as I see it.
*We place a much higher value of our own species than any other.
*We are an invasive species
*We are aggressive and belligerent which leads to us fighting with each other over moral/ethical decisions.

I'm not sure if it's realistic to believe that we'll just move to outer space, that's likely thousands of years away imo. Do you think the world will ever be forced into controlling how many kids people can have?

Here's 3 estimated scenerio's

FutWorldPop.gif


current-pop-jpeg.jpg
Click to expand...

Tiny houses for everybody, they will seem huge after the height and weight tax, everyone under five foot and a hundred pounds.
 
GagHalfrunt said:
Birth rates have been declining consistently for more than 60 years. CBR has dropped from 37+ in 1955 to to around 19 today and is expected to keep falling.

And those that want to cite Malthus, or Paul Ehrlich or any of the other Henny Penny doom mongers, science has been laughing at those guys for decades and will laugh even louder at any nutjob that uses those now dis-proven theories as a source for why the Earth is supposedly in trouble. As population growth continues to decline food production continues to increase. We're squeezing out half as many rugrats as 50 years ago and growing 25% more food. If the world didn't starve to death then, we're sure as shit not in any danger of it happening now. We're already at something like a 20% food glut, the world produces 20% more food than it currently needs and each year the food to person ratio gets better, not worse.
Click to expand...

Factor in the loss of half the Great Plains top soil right now and then what have you got to raise future corn and wheat on?
 
There are enough resources to support 10x the current population or more if social and economic inequality* doesn't get out of hand, and technology will enable us to be more productive and efficient with resources.

* The people pushing for population control measures are usually on the affluent side, or at least aren't the ones who suffer the consequences
 
Crono said:
There are enough resources to support 10x the current population or more if social and economic inequality* doesn't get out of hand, and technology will enable us to be more productive and efficient with resources.

* The people pushing for population control measures are usually on the affluent side, or at least aren't the ones who suffer the consequences
Click to expand...
Fresh water and food disagrees with you.
 
Crono said:
There are enough resources to support 10x the current population or more if social and economic inequality* doesn't get out of hand, and technology will enable us to be more productive and efficient with resources.

* The people pushing for population control measures are usually on the affluent side, or at least aren't the ones who suffer the consequences
Click to expand...

And what happens when climate changes wipes out half the arable land?
 
Life saving meds and techniques will be outlawed. Have cancer? No therapy for you, wither away and die please. Born with a heart murmur? Sorry kid, you were born in the wrong time period. Legs got cleaved off in a tractor accident? Hope you clot quickly,.. on your own.
P
 
Civilization doesn't need to do anything. Either countries will be fighting for resources and causing mass deaths, or the whole system will work itself out.

You are already seeing this with high cost of living, massive debt for younger people, higher divorces, families starting later in life, etc etc.
 
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