Denis Frith - Articles

 

Bio: I am a retired aeronautical research scientist who has become concerned with what the operations of civilization have done to the ecosystem. I was so concerned that I undertook my own research project to gain more understanding of what has actually happened. I wanted to leave a sound legacy.

I developed my research capabilities during my career by thinking through the theoretical and experiential arguments presented by a galaxy of knowledgeable people. As I am an Australian, most of this occurred in the land down under. But I did have the opportunity to discuss my specialty, fluid dynamics with kindred souls in Britain, America and Canada. I was a scientific advisor with a Royal Australian Air Force team sent to The United States to evaluate contender aircraft. I received international recognition for my achievements.

Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Engineering Science
Member, Institution of Engineers, Australia
Member, Royal Aeronautical Society (Britain)
Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Member, Society of Automotive Engineers (USA)
Visiting Fellow, Science Research Council (Britain)
Chairman, HAG8, The Technical Cooperation Panel (USA, Britain, Canada, Australia)

Upon retirement, I put my proven research ability to work using the Internet to gain insight into the role that cheap, but irreplaceable, energy had played in the growth of society. I soon appreciated that the holistic malaise went far beyond the dependence on energy. It is summed up by the Dependence on Nature Law. I am now satisfied that I have determined a sound basis for what has gone wrong in the development of civilization. It is an uncommon view. But perceptive people will appreciate it in due course.

I have incorporated these findings in ‘What went wrong? The misdirection of civilization’ in a manner intended for general readers but having a sound scientific backing. It will be published soon.

I am now producing a spreadsheet, ‘Growth and senescence of civilization’ to become an ebook. It will provide a useful tool for assessing how communities will develop in the difficult times ahead.

The aging Tityas

The operation of our civilization, Tityas, is totally dependent on using limited natural capital under the control of natural forces, even though society believes in the potency of money - for now. It has not accounted for the divestment of the most valuable asset, our life support system, natural capital. Read

By: Denis Frith | 17/12/2009 | International Studies

Comment On ‘Against The Gods: The Remarkable Story Of Risk’ By Peter L Bernstein

Bernstein provides insight into the impact of probability and uncertainty on the risk involved in making decisions. His primary focus is on financial investments. He anticipated the current chaos. But his typically anthropocentric views contribute to the delusion that humans are in control even as ecological forces start to hit hard. Read

By: Denis Frith | 08/03/2009 | Science

Wealth - Spurious And Real

Society has a fascination with making money, so building up financial wealth. It is a mental hallucination only possible whilst the body continues to use nature's endowments for sustenance. That hallucination in rapidly coming in to question as ecological forces exert control. We may make money but we cannot make natural capital. Money will lose its impotency. Read

By: Denis Frith | 24/02/2009 | Wealth Building

The Control Delusion

We are under the delusion that we can control what our civilization does to its life support system, the environment. The recent Victorian bush fires on Black Saturday brings out the reality that natural forces can be way beyond our control. Further, they illustrate how our misguided activities have also exacerbated a dire situation. Read

By: Denis Frith | 21/02/2009 | Science

Coping With Climate Change

There is a lot of discussion about what can be done about climate change. This discussion does not take into account the fact that we developed the capability to unleash extremely powerful natural forces to build up our civilization but with the unintended consequence of initiating climate change. We cannot call on powerful natural forces now to stop this process. We have to learn to live with what we have done wrong. Read

By: Denis Frith | 09/02/2009 | Environment

Matenergy

There is a lot of discussion about how energy drives the operations of civilization. This tends to be misleading as energy is an attribute of materials. Using energy invariably produces material wastes. The consequences of focusing on energy alone have resulted in such dire problems as climate change. Read

By: Denis Frith | 08/02/2009 | Science

The Gambling Game

Betting on horse racing and investing on financial markets have some similarities that are not commonly recognized. They also differ in some critical aspects, as society is learning the hard way. Read

By: Denis Frith | 16/09/2008 | Investing

Motivating Suicide and Ecocide

Civilization is irreversibly using up the limited tangible natural capital. That intangible, money, drives the devastation of society and the degradation of its life support system, the environment. Read

By: Denis Frith | 07/04/2008 | Environment

Industrial Civilization Pandora's Box

Greek mythology has given us Pandora's box. Economics has released more tangible evils from the ecological box. That is the modern day reality equivalent of the ancient, but perceptive, myth. Read

By: Denis Frith | 10/12/2007 | Environment

Unsustainability of Civilization

Society takes pride in its achievements without counting the real costs, the decimation of its life support system, the environment. This essay points out that development of civilization is not sustainable and issues a challenge. What to do? Read

By: Denis Frith | 10/12/2007 | Environment