Dalla Complessità Ecosistemica Al Cambiamento Climatico | Nunzio Allocca | TEDxSapienzaU

27 Jul 2024 (2 months ago)

Galileo's Challenge to Traditional Cosmology

Galileo's observations of sunspots challenged the traditional view of the celestial realm as perfect and unchanging. He argued that these spots were material formations, indicating ongoing processes of generation and corruption on the Sun, a celestial body traditionally seen as pure, luminous, and life-giving.
Galileo's discoveries, including the rugged surface of the Moon, the cloudy nature of the Sun, and the phases of Venus, shattered the Aristotelian-Ptolemaic distinction between celestial and terrestrial physics. This distinction separated the universe into two ontologically and hierarchically distinct spheres: the perfect and incorruptible supralunar region and the sublunar region, with Earth at its center, subject to change and motion.

Galileo's The Assayer emphasized the importance of observation and experimentation in understanding the natural world. He argued that the "great book of nature" is written in the language of mathematics, and without this knowledge, one is lost in a labyrinth.
Galileo's theory of matter, influenced by atomism, focused on the objective, geometric, and mechanical properties of objects, such as size, shape, position, and motion. He rejected the Aristotelian-scholastic explanation of sensible qualities, arguing that they are merely subjective sensations, not inherent properties of things.

Descartes and Bacon's View of Nature: Descartes, in his "Discourse on Method," compared nature to a machine, viewing the world as a complex system of gears and mechanisms. He, along with Francis Bacon, celebrated the power of technology to control nature, believing humans could become "lords and possessors" of it. This view, which emerged around the 17th century, saw nature as a resource for human use and consumption, devoid of intrinsic value or history.
The Rise of Industrial Civilization: The Industrial Revolution, starting in the late 18th century, led to a "civilization of machines," transforming natural ecosystems and reshaping cities. This period also saw the rise of factory work, with long hours and limited opportunities for intellectual and moral development.

The 20th century witnessed a rapid acceleration of technological advancements, including the invention of the atomic bomb in 1945. This event, along with the subsequent nuclear arms race, highlighted the potential for humanity's self-destruction.
Einstein's Warning: Albert Einstein, in 1945, expressed concern about the responsibility of scientists who had created such powerful weapons. He drew a parallel to Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who later regretted his invention. Einstein urged for a change in attitude and a focus on building a peaceful future.

The text discusses the impact of human activities on the environment, particularly the overconsumption of resources and the resulting ecological debt.
It highlights the concept of entropy, as explained by Max Planck, and its connection to the irreversibility of natural processes.
The text mentions the "overshoot day," a date that marks the point when humanity's resource consumption exceeds Earth's capacity to regenerate.
It states that Italy, as of May 19th of the year the video was made, had exhausted its natural resources and entered an ecological debt.
The text emphasizes the importance of sustainability and the need for resources equivalent to almost three planets to meet Italy's current needs.

The text concludes by referencing two iconic images: the "Earthrise" photo taken by the Apollo 8 mission in 1968 and the "Blue Marble" photo taken by the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
These images, according to the speaker, are significant because they highlight the fragility and beauty of Earth, prompting reflection on the environmental challenges we face.
The iconic "Blue Marble" photograph taken from the Apollo 17 mission revealed Earth as a fragile, beautiful, and interconnected system.
This perspective, along with scientific observations, led ecologist James Lovelock to propose the Gaia hypothesis, which views Earth as a self-regulating organism capable of maintaining conditions suitable for life.

However, human actions are causing irreversible damage to this delicate system, leading to a "catastrophic ecological crisis."
Nobel laureate Ilya Prigogine emphasized the need for a new alliance between science and the humanities to address this crisis.
The term "Anthropocene," coined by Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen, highlights the profound impact humans have on the planet, including climate change and the melting of glaciers.

To avoid extinction, humanity must rethink its relationship with nature and technology, including artificial intelligence.
This requires developing new models of development that prioritize sustainability, respect for cultural diversity, and responsible use of natural resources.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of shifting towards sustainable transportation systems and a circular economy to drastically reduce energy consumption and waste.
He argues that technological advancements, while remarkable, can no longer ignore the need for ethical and civic commitment on a global scale.
This commitment should be rooted in respect for biodiversity and a renewed sense of awe for the unique life on Earth, as evidenced by the moving images from space.
The speaker calls for critical thinking and a global appeal for responsibility in culture and a culture of responsibility.