In this book, Vaclav Smil argues that power density is a key determinant of the nature and dynamics of energy systems. Any understanding of complex energy systems must rely on quantitative measures of many fundamental variables. Power density—the rate of energy flux per unit of area—is an important but largely overlooked measure. Smil provides the first systematic, quantitative appraisal of…
In an era of planet-wide transformation, we need a new model for planet-wide environmental politics. This book proposes 'earth system' governance as just such a new paradigm. It offers both analytical and normative perspectives. It provides detailed analysis of global environmental politics in terms of five dimensions of effective governance: agency, particularly agency beyond that of state act…
Not so long ago, people North and South had little reason to believe that wealth from oil, gas, and coal brought anything but great prosperity. But the presumption of net benefits from fossil fuels is eroding as widening circles of people rich and poor experience the downside. A positive transition to a post-fossil fuel era cannot wait for global agreement, a swap-in of renewables, a miracle te…
A proposal for a categorization of cognition based on core properties of the constituent processes that integrates theory and empirical findings across domains.OCLC-licensed vendor bibliographic record.
What beliefs are, what they do for us, how we come to hold them, and how to evaluate them.OCLC-licensed vendor bibliographic record.
Too rapidly rising carbon taxes or the introduction of subsidies for renewable energies induce owners of fossil fuel reserves to increase their extraction rates for fear of their reserves becoming worthless. Fossil fuel use is thus brought forward. The resulting acceleration of global warming and counter-productivity of well-intended climate policy has been coined the Green Paradox. This volume…
"The idea that human history is approaching a 'singularity'--that ordinary humans will someday be overtaken by artificially intelligent machines or cognitively enhanced biological intelligence, or both--has moved from the realm of science fiction to serious debate. Some singularity theorists predict that if the field of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to develop at its current dizzying r…
A neurologist and Zen practitioner clarifies the benefits of meditative training, drawing on classical Buddhist literature and modern brain research."In Zen-Brain Horizons, James Austin draws on his decades of experience as a neurologist and Zen practitioner to clarify the benefits of meditative training. Austin integrates classical Buddhist literature with modern brain research, exploring the …
Over the past four decades, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and key urban regions of China have emerged as global cities - in financial, political, cultural, environmental, and demographic terms. In this book, Robert Gottlieb and Simon Ng trace the global emergence of these urban areas and compare their responses to a set of six urban environmental issues. These cities have different patterns of develo…
"The growth of the Internet has been propelled in significant part by user investment in infrastructure: computers, internal wiring, and the connection to the Internet provider. This "bottom-up" investment minimizes the investment burden facing providers. New technologies such as wireless and data transmission over power lines, as well as deregulation of telecommunications and electric utilitie…