Ep 18 | Thomas Murphy
Thomas Murphy: “Physics and Planetary Ambitions”
On this episode, we meet with Professor of Physics at UCSD and the Associate Director of CASS, the Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, Tom Murphy.
Murphy shows us how continued growth and energy use is an impossibility if continued at our current trajectory. How does physics constrain our planetary ambitions? Murphy helps us do the math.
To help us align with a post-growth trajectory, Murphy offers suggestions for how humans can begin to treat nature as well as we treat ourselves — and why we must care about the future in order to create a brighter one.
About Tom Murphy
Tom Murphy is a Professor in the Physics Department at UCSD, the Associate Director of CASS, the Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, and is the author of Energy and Human Ambitions on a Finite Planet.
From 2003–2020, Murphy led the APOLLO project as an ultra-precise test of General Relativity using the technique of lunar laser ranging. Professor Murphy’s interests are transitioning to quantitative assessment of the challenges associated with long-term human success on a finite planet.
In French, we have a motto that says that a simple drawing is often better than a long explanation. Jean-Marc Jancovici Carbone 4 President
That’s very understandable because with left atmosphere thinking, one of the problems is that you see everything as a series of problems that must have solutions. Iain McGilchrist Neuroscientist and Philosopher
We can’t have hundreds and hundreds of real relationships that are healthy because that requires time and effort and full attention and awareness of being in real relationship and conversation with the other human. Nate Hagens Director of ISEOF
This is the crux of the whole problem. Individual parts of nature are more valuable than the biocomplexity of nature. Thomas Crowther Founder Restor
Show Notes & Links to Learn More
Download transcript00:35 – Thomas Murphy info, Do the Math, Energy and Human Ambitions on a Finite Planet
02:06 – Einstein’s general relativity
04:28 – Irreplaceability of fossil fuels
05:01 – Energy and Human Ambitions on a Finite Planet
08:08 – Laws of thermodynamics
11:18 – Infrared radiation and climate
14:10 – Exponential growth
14:47 – Rule of 70
15:42 – Decoupling
18:35 – Herman Daly
19:01 – Economics based in physics
19:15 – Thomas Malthus
22:09 – Galactic Scale Energy
23:50 – Average 2-3% Energy growth per year
27:33 – Material limits + Nate on Materials
32:10 – Waste heat
32:25 – 17 terawatt economy
37:06 – Advance Policy (Password: advance)
38:07 – Cognitive Dissonance
38:35 – Do the Math blog post – Programmed to Ignore
38:45 – Myers-Briggs types
51:28 – Discount rate
57:57 – Collective action problem
59:24 – Extinction Rebellion
59:24 – Fridays for Future
