Bases Quote by Jared Diamond
“All of our current environmental problems are unanticipated harmful consequences of our existing technology. There is no basis for believing that technology will miraculously stop causing new and unanticipated problems while it is solving the problems that it previously produced.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, Jared Diamond, 2005
Technological advances often create new environmental harms that persist even as they solve older problems.
In simple terms: Technology can cause new environmental issues while fixing old ones.
Key Takeaway
Anticipate and mitigate unintended impacts of new tech.
Themes
environment
technology
unintended consequences
risk
sustainability
future
Mood
cautious
analytical
concerned
Type
analytical
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- industrial development
- energy production
- agricultural expansion
- urban planning
- policy making
Key Concepts
Ecology
innovation
systems thinking
precautionary principle
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards can prevent new harms from emerging?
- How can societies balance innovation with environmental stewardship?
A Different Perspective
Assuming technology will self-correct ignores human and ecological complexities.
