139. Fossil Future w/ Alex Epstein

Alex Epstein joins us again to discuss his excellent new book, Fossil Future, which makes a powerful case for why fossil fuels are essential for human flourishing, and why restricting them is the real crisis facing humanity. Alex explains how overhyped the supposed ‘alternatives’ to fossil fuels are, and how fossil fuels remain completely essential for our modern standards of living, and why their use is constantly growing. Why do fossil fuels represent the only realistic alternative to poverty and early death for everyone on earth? Why do carbonhysterics only focus on the supposed negative impacts of fossil fuels, but never their benefits? Why is it so hard to have an honest debate with carbonhysterics? We also discuss how the use of fossil fuels was instrumental in ending slavery and liberating women, and whether fiat inflation is the driver of the propaganda to vilify fossil fuels. We conclude with a discussion of whether fossil fuels really are from fossils, or if they are naturally occurring in earth.
🔗👇🏼
Alex’s book Fossil Future:
www.amazon.com/Fossil-Future-...
Get a free copy of Alex’s book here:
fossilfuture.com/
Subscribe to Alex’s Substack “Energy Talking Points”:
alexepstein.substack.com/
A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nations by Robert Bryce:
www.amazon.com/Question-Power...
Three billion people use less electricity than the average American fridge:
AlexEpstein/statu...
Alex's podcast interview with Professor Mukul Sharma on fracking:
podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast...
18 spectacularly wrong climate predictions from the 1970s, including several made by Paul Ehrlich:
www.aei.org/carpe-diem/18-spe...
Alex’s Congressional Testimony, May 19, 2021:
energytalkingpoints.com/alex-...
Alex eviscerates COP26 on GB News:
• Alex Epstein eviscerat...
Sponsors:
Coinkite:
coinkite.com/
Get the Bitcoin Standard Statscard here:
coinkite.shop/bitcoinstandard
CoinBits App:
coinbits.app/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Saifedean’s first book, The Bitcoin Standard:
saifedean.com/thebitcoinstandard
Saifedean’s second book, The Fiat Standard:
saifedean.com/thefiatstandard
Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean’s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here:
saifedean.com/membership/

[@Nasumbati]

Literally strange this has so little attention. History will be in these men's favour

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

>Thanks for watching, send a direct msg for more profitable information📈📊

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

HIT ME UP 📊✅

[@daNorse]

Welcome to the club! :)

[@daNorse]

p.s. you have a WhatsApp spammer! (delete him)...

[@wheel-man5319]

​@@daNorse I can report such... But you may still see it... Also isn't it interesting that alphabet allows them on channels they disagree with?

[@EveryDayWalkingWithChrist]

My favorite researchers and teachers!!!! Thank you IMMENSELY Saif and Alex!!!!!

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

>Thanks for watching, send a direct msg for more profitable information📈📊

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

HIT ME UP 📊✅

[@stefanolo2]

I'm so happy every time Alex gets a platform to spread his knowledge from, and now it's from a podcast by one of my absolute favorite thinkers in bitcoin. I found Alex for the first time in late 2015 and bought his book The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, and i will certainly buy and read Fossil Future as well. Thanks both Alex and Saif!

[@Nomenius1]

The price sensitivity argument is such a mind blower for me. It's not something that I'm completely sure is happening, but if anything is happening then that is a very compelling reason why it might be happening.

[@LiborTinka]

There is a great video from Royal Society called "Andrew Szydlo's Chemistry of Coal". For anyone interested, it teaches people how important this resource is. It's not "just" for energy. Without it, we can't imagine whole industries like steel, chemical or pharmaceutical. Millions of chemicals ranging from solvents through plastics to pharmaceuticals are made from crude oil and coal - it's the richest source of raw organic material (stuff containing the C-H bonds) we have, both aliphatic and aromatic. People made great progress in mitigating the risks (like capturing SO2 and NOx fumes) but as with the "war on drugs", the propaganda focuses only on the bad and completely ignores the good and the harm reduction, making effectively more harm overall and solving nothing in the long run.

[@emoshunless]

One of the most important books of our time. Buy multiple copies and share with everyone.

[@DanBauer]

A+++ conversation, I learned so much. Thank you both and I can’t wait for your book!

[@petersmith-prolifeministri6969]

It is absutely true , when you have engines , no need for slaves. Its good to notice people mentioning how Britain ended the slave trade.

[@stevecloutier9414]

Superb discussion, thank you gentlemen !

[@petermathieson5692]

Alex Epstein, the clearest thinker we have on this topic.

[@amarreder6241]

Fossil Fuels must be considered on its humanitarian basis, first. 1. Water Treatment Plants are mostly powered by electricity. 2. The majority of electricity comes from Fossil Fuels. 3. There's no modern Medical Technology, Medicine, or Procedure that can happen without clean water, for sanitation. The life expectancy in India has improved as a result of numerous medical and healthcare advancements. India's life expectancy in 1950 was 35.21 and it will be 81.96 in the year 2100. To understand this, it must be noted that India's life expectancy in 2022 is 70.19.

[@matejgalovic2814]

It'd be great if you'd get a new microphone for 150th episode of podcast or something like that, there are cheap options such as elgato wave 1 which you can probably get for under 100$ and the sound would drastically improve. Love the content either way, keep posting!

[@genewint7438]

FREE SPEECH!?!..You Tube?

[@EmileBroussard]

I suggest much more time be spent expanding and refining the anti-'slavery' aspect of modern energy-dependent machines. This is the perfect moral case in defense of hydrocarbons. It should be front and center in the effort to enlighten the propagandized masses.

[@baxrok2.]

Brilliant. Thank you!

[@kiter9271]

The US electric grid entails much more complexity than discussed @~1:15:00. "Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility Of Our Electric Grid" by Meredith Angwin, recommend you invite Meredith to a future podcast.

[@toungewizzard6994]

Hello keep up your honest truth x

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

>Thanks for watching, send a direct msg for more profitable information📈📊

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

HIT ME UP 📊✅

[@zympf]

Al Gore, "this is what the scientists are telling me" (predicted Arctic to be ice-free by 2014)

[@S54VR6]

Can someone explain to me how Elon Musk is going to terra form Mars, a barren wasteland, into a liveable environment but somehow we’re making earth permanently unlivable with fossil fuels?

[@thaddeuswalker2728]

This is not a contradiction across a single person or group. I have never heard one person claim both. However if we came across such a person and I was trying to be charitable I would say perhaps their comparison is between Earth and Venus. Mars is also advertised as hard and dangerous

[@Junglebtc]

Excellent point 👉

[@Blockchain_bingo]

Wow amazing episode!

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

>Thanks for watching, send a direct msg for more profitable information📈📊

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

HIT ME UP 📊✅

[@qrzupsjohnson707]

Interesting to hear about how slavery ended when the Industrial Revolution propagated. And also wholesome hydrocarbons 😅

[@zygi22]

Loved the wing analogy. 🤣 But in reality this is the logical outcome of forcing unreliables.

[@glennmitchell9107]

If politicians could think in anything other than one-size-fits-all solutions, then I would be more comfortable with "Green" initiatives such as mass transit, electric cars, and automated transport systems. Such experiments might work well (and maybe even be necessary) in highly urbanized areas. However, such solutions are nonsensical when applied to rural or even suburban areas.

[@wheel-man5319]

Every 'solution' that's top down reduces human liberty.

[@jimcricket1]

I bought both books anyway, in print and audio.

[@genewint7438]

It seems youtube does not like this podcast!..the thumbs up has been removed!!!

[@kamilion100]

Great talk

[@juspermachogu]

Great interview

[@ArnoldJagt]

Ultimately, fake reality is a consequence of fake money.

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

>Thanks for watching, send a direct msg for more profitable information📈📊

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

HIT ME UP 📊✅

[@lawy3077]

Great episode👍. I hadn’t heard this was Russian theory, interesting seeing they’ve been promoting anti-fracking and ESG propaganda for 20 years.

[@wheel-man5319]

Anti fracking, ESG, and net-zero are all anti industrial ideas, they all come from the communist world view.

[@cloudstrife543]

Wanting to explore more: 1. The previous show with the Dr said that human sourced GHG would increase the temperatures by 1 degree celsius. What would you say to the argument that they say that the increase is too fast. Is the answer just that we need to accept it and will be fine as the alternative of moving to net zero is worse? 2. Yes on fossil fuels, but we should continue to find cheaper forms of energy also, nuclear, renewables, whatever it is

[@lordkelvin441]

I'd think the root cause of all this is widespread belief amongst certain demographics (significant one named by Saif, other significant one by Alex in his book) that any human activity can be efficiently done on command and/or under fear. Variants of that belief rub on Western society since formation of UN, a platform where such ideas can be communicated without overt challenge. Within that framework it might be still posited that even in industrialized world it is still easier for some people to subjugate others than to subjugate nature. Especially for people that haven't received and/or appreciated Saif's rigorous enginering (or at least subset of) training. They have no mental capacity to alter that (would require thorough understanding of MacIntyre Paradox and ensuing contention with heavy cognitive dissonance), so they would pursue projects that ensure their ability to subjugate people is not challenged. That is end game behind all support given to 'biocentrists' and alike.

[@MD-kv2gc]

The $500bn wind subsidy is bandied around Saifedean - I heard some other numbers recently that sounded more like

[@marcelolamoglia]

SA + Coinkite, great! congrats!

[@joshua8314]

100% agree with Alex, with one exception. The term "fossil" fuel was a title invented to imply scarcity of oil and thereby drive up prices.

[@wheel-man5319]

It's hard to get... That is petroleum.

[@kiter9271]

Excellent podcast. BTW: There wasn't, isn't and never will be, a theory of climate. The GCMs are like a Mickie Mouse cartoon, almost completely detached from reality. "Taken By Storm: The Troubled Science, Policy and Politics of Global Warming" Christopher Essex and Ross McKitrick

[@jimmybrad156]

21:45 wood can burn with only byproducts being ash (which is good for soil), co2 and water (except for when starting up) - based on burning the smoke. Look up rocket stoves.

[@416dl]

Having explored the geologic process of abiogenesis I've been calling it petro-fuels. Thomas Gold was right about this.

[@iangcoville]

You two please team up with Adrian Bejan (population expert) and Todd Barry (host) and lead the new enlightenment.

[@williambaikie5739]

I ❤ fossil fuels!

[@arbelllowther1512]

Our world leaders might suggest that we get rid of the wheel. It is the same ludicrous idea as net zero and banning fossil fuels. 😮

[@wheel-man5319]

That's their goal, never doubt it!!

[@Matzes]

You should have Tony Seba on to hear the other side. He is also a fan of bitcoin

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

>Thanks for watching, send a direct msg for more profitable information📈📊

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

HIT ME UP 📊✅

[@thn91506]

You gotta do something with the audio to mitigate the nasal breathing sound.

[@WhoMe87799]

Has anyone ever mentioned that big oil saved the whales from extinction?

[@wheel-man5319]

Not lately ‼️ But it's very true ‼️

[@formetoknow540]

Safedean amous is a G

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

>Thanks for watching, send a direct msg for more profitable information📈📊

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

HIT ME UP 📊✅

[@Earthandweather]

I don't understand your reasoning on the "making someone your slave doubles your productivity". Sure...Lets say it does, It also doubles your need for food & shelter, etc.

[@johnnymidas5879]

👍🔥👍🔥👍

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

>Thanks for watching, send a direct msg for more profitable information📈📊

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

HIT ME UP 📊✅

[@deal2live]

Correlation is not causation, when it some thing you disagree with.

[@wheel-man5319]

Are you saying thunder causes lightning? Or that thunder causes rain?

[@American_Energy]

Saif, have you and Alex redone your math when factoring in batteries?

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

>Thanks for watching, send a direct msg for more profitable information📈📊

[@hitmeupontelegramsimple_in5382]

HIT ME UP 📊✅

[@kevthorpe2116]

thank you for bringing common sense oil and gas hydrocarbons are essential for life keep up the fight for the truth and stop the hysteria

[@joehawbaker601]

Can you reconcile these ideas with Nate Hagens'? Mainly, when will we run out of this incredible energy? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6nVaqV_ht2qoJY

[@wheel-man5319]

We'd be in far less danger in that regard if we could use nuclear power. But that's been made impossible by the same people who want us to abandon oil without a replacement in place.

[@user-xz9hu4rd2v]

I’m amazed the YouTummunists haven’t put a Climate Change disclaimer on this video.

[@wheel-man5319]

I am as well. They tend to have a hardon for Alex.

[@daNorse]

Fusion and Thorium!

[@wheel-man5319]

Neither on is in commercial use, the second isn't even more than barely possible. Certainly nothing on a sustained, reliable basis.

[@OptimalOwl]

Maybe eventually. But right now, even U-235 reactors languish in an underdeveloped state. It'd be like trying to replace horses with nothing in 1875, expecting people to ride on good wishes for the next 45 years until cars become affordable. And it's not clear in exactly what way mature nuclear power would compete with or complement fossil power. The answer could possibly be that gasoline and diesel are just more convenient for many transport applications, such that we'll want to synthesize them using abundant cheap nuclear power.

[@genejitsu3305]

Undoubtedly machines are life enhancing. However if you observe prior civilisations, like aboriginal Australians, Mayans etc. all contributed and enhanced nature close to the garden of Eden esque state. Naturally it would be considered akin to a garden of Eden purely because those environments, over time, were curated to human needs and tastes.

[@grantw7946]

Dirty, Dirty, Dirty!!!

[@vicmarc4984]

I mostly disagree w/ this video. There’s no logical response to the climate crisis except conservation and innovation, a REGRESSION is consumption is imminent because past 30-years of inadequate planning. I.e. Regression, and slower use of fossil fuels is now a necessity (due to lack of planning for last 30-years).

[@amarreder6241]

Fossil Fuels must be considered on the humanitarian basis first. 1. Water Treatment Plants are powered by electricity. 2. The majority of electricity comes from Fossil Fuels. 3. There's no modern Medical Technology, Medicine, or Procedure that can happen without clean water, for sanitation.

[@OptimalOwl]

Radical disempowerment, deindustrialization and impoverishment seem like solutions in search of a problem. There's just nothing going on with the climate right now that's anywhere close to justifying the massive human costs of your policy.

[@wtucker4773]

@@OptimalOwl If nothing going on with the climate right now . What is a change in climate that would signal a need for action?

[@OptimalOwl]

​@@wtucker4773 It would have to be something whose net-effects are clearly negative for humanity, and clearly of sufficient magnitude to exceed the benefits of fossil-powered industrial civilization, including our fossil-powered climate mastery. Maybe +1ºC and +30cm per couple of years instead of per century, or something like that? Perhaps less, if the effects of global average temperature increases weren't felt most in places that could stand to be a lot warmer anyway. If industrialization had caused human deaths from climate to increase by a factor of 50 rather than to decrease by a factor of 50, then that could have been the start of quite a convincing argument. If we were on track to exceed the all-time high of CO2 concentration, at something like 4 - 6'000 PPM, then I would be pretty worried about that. I won't say it'd immediately convince me to disempower and deindustrialize, but it'd put me in the mindset of weighing large, known benefits against some non-negligible risk of human extinction. Did you have some specific counterfactual in mind that you wanted my take on? Either way, yours is a fantastic question. I wish people would ask it more often of themselves and eachother.

[@wtucker4773]

@@OptimalOwl Thank you for your reply, another question when you have the time. Do you know how the concept of decreasing climate-related deaths by a factor of 50 was derived? It’s not floods, droughts, storms, nor the extreme temperatures call Climate Change, that many believe will happen due to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that worries me. It’s the very small life forms in our eco system that most don’t see or even think about. They will have a whole new environment in which to flourish in, due to global warming and an increase in carbon dioxide levels.

[@barackblows1942]

Bring on Joseph Olson to discuss abiotic oil.