SKU: 44248626285

Tragedy in Mouse Utopia: An Ecological Commentary on Human Utopia

Sale price$14.31 Regular price$15.90
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $3.98 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 18 - Aug 23

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Tragedy in Mouse Utopia: An Ecological Commentary on Human UtopiaIn 1968 John B. Calhoun, American behavioral ecologist, introduced eight mice into a technologically designed walled enclosure that fulfilled all the wants and needs of mice except migration in and out. Over a 41 2 year period the population exploded into a colony of 2200 mice, and then slowly and inexorably declined to extinction. Deprived of motherly love early in life, and denied access to social roles later in life, young mice grew up without

In 1968 John B. Calhoun, American behavioral ecologist, introduced eight mice into a technologically designed walled enclosure that fulfilled all the wants and needs of mice except migration in and out. Over a 41/2 year period the population exploded into a colony of 2200 mice, and then slowly and inexorably declined to extinction. Deprived of motherly love early in life, and denied access to social roles later in life, young mice grew up without knowing how to behave as mice. This book examines whether a similar fate could be in store for Human Utopia.
Part I compares the suicidal effects of runaway growth in Mouse Utopia to a similar sequence of events in Human Utopia. Part II describes our dependence on the Biosphere. Part III shows how the runaway growth of technology and population is creating havoc in our species and the Biosphere. How an inner life-force symbolized as "the Sorcerer" causes populations to self-destruct by satisfying internal desires beyond their useful times. As the Sorcerer's apprentices, we have been preparing the ground for a crisis of crises beyond human control. Part IV describes how the Sorcerer works and how to control his destructive traits. Political, spiritual and behavioral opportunities are identified that could be overlooked, misinterpreted or ignored in steering a course toward coevolution of humanity and the Biosphere.
Victor J. Crapnell: "Interesting, yes; and scary "
Johnny Biosphere: "This book is remedial reading fom some ecologists, most employees of enviornmental protection agencies, and most forward looking businessmen and politicians."
Economist Tom Muir interviews ecologist J.R. Vallentyne on "Tragedy in Mouse Utopia: The Sorcerer Lurks Within" 2006. Trafford Publishing, 2333 Government St. Victoria BC, V8T 4P4, Canada.
Muir: Dr. Vallentyne, you claim that the global course of "Human Utopia" since the 14th century has been following the 41/2 year march to extinction of a mouse colony provided with everything that mice could want. You seem to dismiss the "magic of the marketplace." What about human innovation and invention? Men are not mice
Vallentyne: My comparison is not between men and mice. It is between the behavior of mice and humans when both are driven to excesses by a runaway cycle of growth of technology and population. The marketplace accelerates the runaway cycle by feeding human desires rather than limiting human growth.
Muir: Yet another global treatise on this subject in addition to Malthus, The Club of Rome, and Global 2000??? Don't you think the public and political reaction will be to shrug and move on?
Vallentyne: Possibly, but I have added three new dimensions to the discussion: (1) a runaway cycle of intertwined growth of technology and population, jointly; (2) a change of context from an era of "upward causation" in which exponential growth is normal, to an era of "downward causation" in which continued growth is suicidal; and (3) the psychological-behavioral nature of the problem in both mice and humans. Malthus, it seems, is not yet entirely dead.
Muir: What makes you think that we may be on the brink of globally disastrous feedback from the Biosphere? I do not think that you are even close to evaluating the influence of different time scales in your analysis.
Vallentyne: Look around. Biospheric feedback is here now and increasing Differences in timescales create the problem
Muir: What do you have to say to the eternal optimist and the resigned pessimist?
Vallentyne: Nothing. Realists and pragmatists are needed.
Muir: If destruction takes place in 500 to 1000 years, who cares?
Vallentyne: Nobody - except humanitarians, environmentalists, most women and all children.
Muir: Does our global technological society have to crash? Isn't it possible that human society will ignore your work?
Vallentyne: My book poses these questions, but does not presume to answer them. My aim has been to identify contexts and probabilities that shape the answers.
Muir: You describe "a Sorcerer within" as a mastermind of the cravings behind The Seven Deadly Sins. Isn't that just a little bit far-fetched?
Vallentyne: Not at all. The notion of the Sorcerer has more in common with our perceptions of reality than science or psychology can ever convey. naming the mastermind of the cravings could be key to controlling the Sins.
Muir: Given the inability of individuals to overcome the inertia and change the direction of politicians, how can you possibly conclude that our only real hope lies in faith?
Vallentyne: Faith is not unique to religion. It is inherent in the nature of life. As Dostoyevsky noted in The Brothers Karamazov: To a realist, faith does not arise form miracles; miracles arise from faith.
Muir: Has Calhoun's experiment ever been repeated?
Vallentyne: Yes, it is being repeated right now; in Human Utopia For an update on Human Utopia, read Scott Wooding's insightful book The Parenting Crisis.
Muir: What is the bottom line of your book? What is the take-away message?
Vallentyne: At a personallevel: Do unto the ecosystems that you share with others as you would have others do unto the ecosystems they share with you. Politically: Put the concept of the Biosphere (or Ecosphere, if you prefer) into the charter of the United Nations.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
Published: 03/16/2006
ISBN: 9781412056335
Pages: 212
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.48d
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 44248626285

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.8 ★★★★★
Based on 19 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
B
Verified Purchase
Bubble Metropolis
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 4
Reliable Coffee Scale for Daily Use
I've been using the ERAVSOW Coffee Scale for four years now, and it has been an essential tool in my daily coffee brewing routine. Here's what I love about it: Accurate Measurements: The precision sensors ensure accurate measurements every time, which is crucial for brewing the perfect cup of coffee. Whether I'm measuring beans or water, I can always rely on this scale to give me precise results. Convenient Timer: The built-in timer is a fantastic feature for timing my pour-over brews. It helps me achieve consistency in my brewing process and ensures that I extract the flavors just right. Sturdy Construction: The stainless steel construction feels durable and high-quality. It has held up well over the years, despite regular use in my kitchen. LCD Display: The LCD display is clear and somewhat easy to read, not as much in low light conditions. It provides all the necessary information at a glance, including weight and timer readings. Batteries Included: I appreciate that the scale comes with batteries included, so I could start using it right out of the box without any additional purchases. However, there is one minor issue that I've encountered over time—the rubber feet have started to come off. While this hasn't affected the functionality of the scale, it's worth mentioning as it could potentially affect its stability on certain surfaces. Overall, the ERAVSOW Coffee Scale has been a reliable companion in my coffee brewing journey. Despite the minor issue with the rubber feet, I highly recommend it to any coffee enthusiast looking for a dependable scale for their daily brewing needs.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2024
B
Verified Purchase
BoiseDick
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Little Scale
Model: K112BK
I think the size is perfect for my Turin Legato. Fits easily on the drip tray cover but able to get to touch keys easily. Like the touch features and glass top. It is thicker than advertised by a bit (0.78 in vs claimed 0.72).
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2026
S
Verified Purchase
s
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
great budget digital scale
Model: K112BK
Works well and battery has held up between charges. Measures my coffee beans every morning
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2025
C
Verified Purchase
Convinced
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
Accurate
Model: K112BK
Love it. A wonderful addition to my coffee station
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Alexander
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Slightly Inaccurate but Works Well
Pros: Works perfectly for what I need it for. I use an aeropress and it's super easy to weigh the coffee going in and then the water on top of that. Then start the timer for the brew time and you've got a beautiful cup of coffee! Very bright display, easy to read, and comes with a rubber pad which makes cleanup easy. Cons: Not super accurate, but it's fine for making coffee unless you want to be exact. Sometimes the tare doesn't hold perfectly. For example, put your coffee on the scale. Tare it. Take it off. Put it back on. It might read a tenth of a gram or so one way or the other. Never impacted my coffee routine...
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2021

recommand products