Discuss the relationship between energy and society.
The principle question to ask when examining the relationship between energy and society is whether society drive changes in energy or energy stimulates societal change. The most common answer is that as society innovates and grows more forms of energy are harnessed and so our use of energy changes. However, at a more fundamental level, every major change in human history has been caused by the availability of energy in its various forms. The innovations created to harness energy are driven by the available energy, not the other way around. From the beginnings of civilisation, humanity has fought over resources, over energy. We have built great cities and entire civilisations around energy. Those who could more successfully harness energy have conquered the world. Even to this day global politics is still driven by energy and every decision humanity makes, is made with energy in mind. Moving forward humanity from the individual to global levels have difficult choices to make surrounding energy. Once again a period of change and innovation around how we harness energy is needed for the human race to survive. It is generally accepted that we have advanced since the dawn of man, and yet society is as dependent on and driven by its energy needs as the first homo erectus who struck a flame.
Early civilisation was comprised of social groups sharing resources. Hominids began using tools approximately …show more content…
As such energy availability and demand has always driven society from the earliest days of humanity. Those who had greater energy supplies or who could more efficiently harness energy were those who had power and those whose influence survives. Even to this day, energy still equals political power. However, if humanity is to survive there must be a change in how we use energy, society must choose the path of energy, not the other way
The principle question to ask when examining the relationship between energy and society is whether society drive changes in energy or energy stimulates societal change. The most common answer is that as society innovates and grows more forms of energy are harnessed and so our use of energy changes. However, at a more fundamental level, every major change in human history has been caused by the availability of energy in its various forms. The innovations created to harness energy are driven by the available energy, not the other way around. From the beginnings of civilisation, humanity has fought over resources, over energy. We have built great cities and entire civilisations around energy. Those who could more successfully harness energy have conquered the world. Even to this day global politics is still driven by energy and every decision humanity makes, is made with energy in mind. Moving forward humanity from the individual to global levels have difficult choices to make surrounding energy. Once again a period of change and innovation around how we harness energy is needed for the human race to survive. It is generally accepted that we have advanced since the dawn of man, and yet society is as dependent on and driven by its energy needs as the first homo erectus who struck a flame.
Early civilisation was comprised of social groups sharing resources. Hominids began using tools approximately …show more content…
As such energy availability and demand has always driven society from the earliest days of humanity. Those who had greater energy supplies or who could more efficiently harness energy were those who had power and those whose influence survives. Even to this day, energy still equals political power. However, if humanity is to survive there must be a change in how we use energy, society must choose the path of energy, not the other way