The Past Was Still A Golden Age,

For Anyone Inclined To Caricature Environmental History As 'environmental Determinism,' The Contrasting Histories Of The Dominican Republic And Haiti Provide A Useful Antidote. Yes, Environmental Problems Do Constrain Human Societies, But The Societies' Responses Also Make A Difference.

All Recognized Famous Inventors Had Capable Predecessors And Successors And Made Their Improvements At A Time When Society Was Capable Of Using Their Product.

All Of Our Current Environmental Problems Are Unanticipated Harmful Consequences Of Our Existing Technology. There Is No Basis For Believing That Technology Will Miraculously Stop Causing New And Unanticipated Problems While It Is Solving The Problems That It Previously Produced.

Put Another Way, The Chimpanzees' Closest Relative Is Not The Gorilla But Humans.

The Adoption Of Agriculture, Supposedly Our Most Decisive Step Toward A Better Life, Was In Many Ways A Catastrophe From Which We Have Never Recovered.