On the Insignificance of Human Beings on Large Matters

I finally finished Carroll's book; when I find the time I'll post a few of my favorite lines from the epilogue as well as some comments thereon. In the mean time, I noticed that this day marks the second anniversary of "Thoughts and Ideas". Here's hoping for many more such years.

The careful observer will note that I found the time to blog on Valentine's Day some years ago. Though I cannot claim to have been influenced by the hallmark holiday, I think it proper to remark that a certain ex-girlfriend was the first person to compliment and encourage my ability to write. We have since gone our separate ways, and I for one have endured, joyfully and bitterly, twenty-one years of Valentine Days by my lonesome. Yet I have her to thank, at least in part, for this little experiment of mine.

Without further ado, I present today's column:


"I would like to say we're at a point where global warming is impossible to deny. Let's just say that global warming deniers are now on a par with Holocaust deniers, though one denies the past and the other denies the present and future.” - Ellen Goodman.

My biggest problem with those who, like Ellen Goodman, play at Henny Penny when it comes to global warming is their absolute smugness. They are oh-so-smart for declaring that the globe is a-warming. Those of us beset with cynicism concerning the latest chic political cause are, apparently, best compared to Holocaust deniers.

But it is impossible to deny the future, because it doesn't really exist—at least not yet. I am fairly certain that I will have class tomorrow, but I cannot, in good conscience compare a man who doubts me to one who stubbornly resists the plainly presented historical facts. Any number of things could happen which could prevent me from having class. For instance, a nuclear explosion could devastate all of Houghton, not only ending class, but my life as well. On the less extreme end of things, my professor could simply cancel class. Agnosticism in regards to the future is the natural attitude of man; like the fabled Irishman, we would all of us prefer to prophesy after the event.

This is not to say that the earth is not warming any more than I will not have class on the morrow. Nor does this imply that the earth has not gradually warmed over the last several decades. The scientists who study these things tell me that earth has been getting hotter, just as the historians tell me that the Holocaust happened. Being ignorant on the subject of climatology, and having read only second hand accounts of the Holocaust, I accept the conclusions of experts. Average temperatures on the globe are rising and millions of Jews and other undesirables were killed by the National Socialists of Germany.

But the fact that global warming has occurred does not mean that said warming has been necessarily caused by human beings. And this is the mistake the Goodman types always make. It is entirely possible that the temperature of the globe is utterly beyond our control. And although it is merely a silly prediction to suggest as much, I think it likely that this is the case. For global warming is hardly a new thing. As Dr. David Deming of the University of Oklahoma explained to the U.S. Senate:

I received an astonishing email from a major researcher in the area of climate change. He said, "We have to get rid of the Medieval Warm Period."

The Medieval Warm Period (MWP) was a time of unusually warm weather that began around 1000 AD and persisted until a cold period known as the "Little Ice Age" took hold in the 14th century. Warmer climate brought a remarkable flowering of prosperity, knowledge, and art to Europe during the High Middle Ages.

The existence of the MWP had been recognized in the scientific literature for decades. But now it was a major embarrassment to those maintaining that the 20th century warming was truly anomalous. It had to be "gotten rid of."

Obviously, the serfs of the High Middle Ages could do nothing to warm a globe. In other words, Mother Earth warms, and cools herself irrespective of the silly little actions of petty humans on a massive planet. But more importantly, civilization did not crumble despite the warming. When she fails to note this, Goodman enters the realm of Holocaust denier. For the MWP is scientifically established fact.

The earth may continue to warm, and it may not, but if history means anything, we're participants in a ride not necessarily of our choosing. We may as well relax and try to enjoy it.