Many people are pessimistic about Earth's future when they consider the myriad environmental problems facing today's world. In the early nineteenth century, Thomas Robert Malthus predicted a dismal future of overpopulation and mass starvation; neo-Malthusian environmentalists foresee a catastrophic future in which too many humans battle for ever-dwindling resources, leading to vice, misery, and the collapse of civilization.

On the other hand, optimists believe that technology is a cornucopia that, like the mythical horn of plenty, will provide an abundance of ingenious new cures for the world's environmental problems. This promethean environmentalism, named for the Greek titan who created humans and gave them the gift of fire, argues that past innovative technologies have repeatedly averted predicted disasters with new inventions. It asserts that this historic pattern of progress and abundance will continue indefinitely into the future.

According to catastrophists, the disasters accompanying global warming are inevitable unless drastic changes in human society and behavior are implemented immediately. Even then, it may already be too late to avoid an impending doom. Although excessive dwelling on future disasters can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, if nothing is done, the feared consequences are more likely to occur. It is not unreasonable for environmentally concerned people to feel moral indignation over abundant excesses, abuses, and needless waste, but attempting to shock or shame people into altering such behaviors is often futile. Progressive, positive action is seldom motivated by fear alone. If a predicted disasters fail to materialize, the public may assume a false sense of complacency.

On the other hand, prometheans tend to emphasize historical precedents for the solution of environmental problems. Although this approach is comfortable, it can lead the public into a false sense of security by causing people to expect technology to fix all problems. Blind faith in technology then becomes an excuse for continuing behavior that exacerbates existing problems.

A balanced viewpoint also exists between these two extremes. This viewpoint recognizes that there are serious environmental problems facing the world but asserts that obstacles can be conquered when faced openly and creatively. Such a viewpoint embraces the cornucopian belief that solutions to all problems are possible, but it also embraces the catastrophist belief that the cooperation of nearly every human society and individual will be necessary to achieve those solutions. It rejects the inevitability of environmental doom, but it also rejects the belief that anonymous scientists or inventors will solve problems on humanity's behalf, a belief that excuses individuals from working to solve those problems themselves.

Free term papers are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can use our professional writing services to buy a custom written research paper, term paper, or essay on Global Warming at affordable price. CustomTermPapers is the best solution for those who seek help in writing term papers, essays, and research papers related to Global Warming and other relevant topics.