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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 [email protected]://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. [email protected]://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.

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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