Introduction

All I am offering is the truth, nothing more — Morpheus.

Ivo Welch

May 1, 2022

Not a Course in Business Opportunities
- Conceptual Economics Course
- But if you do not understand the broader context, do you really want to dedicate your life or go into the clean-energy business?

Not a Course in Ayn-Randian Defense of Free Markets
- externalities are big
- economics never said “hands off” in these cases
Not a Course in Climate Activism.
- Class is about the real world,
- not about the world we would like.
- It is also not about winning arguments:
- If I am wrong, convince me!

“Whether We Like It Or Not”

If you want to be an activist, be my guest.
Think about the following questions:
- what is only performative and/or useless?
- what can you focus on that would make a difference?
- what can you focus on now that would make a difference?

It sucks that the sun goes down,
- …but there is nothing we can do about it!
- if you want to keep warm, don’t argue about how humanity could invent mirrors that may in 50 years redirect sunlight, but think about what you can do now to improve the situation
  - e.g., build a shelter
  - e.g., invest in mirror R&D.
  - e.g., do not berate people who are not assembling mirrors now
if you want to slow the flood, work in the design office.
- don’t put your finger into the world’s dyke.
- make it easier for people to put fingers into dykes

I am rearranging the topics relative to the book. This will be the organization in the next edition of the book.
pollemu