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Energy, transport, and consumption in the Industrial Revolution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2019

Joseph A. Tainter  and
Temis G. Taylor Open the ORCID record for Temis G. Taylor [Opens in a new window]
Joseph A. Tainter
Affiliation:
Department of Environment and Society, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322joseph.tainter@usu.eduhttps://qcnr.usu.edu/envs/people/faculty/tainter_joseph
Temis G. Taylor
Affiliation:
Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794. temis.taylor@stonybrook.eduhttps://www.aldacenter.org/users/temis-taylor
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Abstract

We question Baumard's underlying assumption that humans have a propensity to innovate. Affordable transportation and energy underpinned the Industrial Revolution, making mass production/consumption possible. Although we cannot accept Baumard's thesis on the Industrial Revolution, it may help explain why complexity and innovation increase rapidly in the context of abundant energy.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 42 , 2019 , e209
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

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