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The Argument · June 11 · 1 hr 12 min

How environmentalists lost the plot

Is modern environmentalism anti-progress? This week, Jerusalem Demsas and Matthew Yglesias read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring – the book that launched the modern environmental movement. Jerusalem and Matt find themselves surprised by what's actually in it. Is it a visionary scientific critique or a romantic backlash against modernity? And did Carson's legacy help or hurt the cause she championed? Plus: new research on whether leaving the workforce accelerates cognitive decline and what that means for an AI-driven future. (0:00) Why Silent Spring Still Matters Today (10:13) The Myth of the "Natural Balance" (15:12) The genius of the screwworm program (20:10) Rachel Carson vs. Big Chemical Industry (29:13) Environmentalism and Global Economic Growth (40:15) Ecomodernism: Can Science Save Nature? (49:31) The Rise of the "Vetocracy" in Policy (59:43) Peer review: Does Working Keep Your Brain Sharp? Peer review: "Does Employment Slow Cognitive Decline? Evidence from Labor Market Shocks" — Kouchekinia, Neumark & Bruckner (NBER): https://www.nber.org/papers/w35117 Support the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.com New episodes every Thursday—subscribe so you never miss a debate! The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.

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Is modern environmentalism anti-progress?

This week, Jerusalem Demsas and Matthew Yglesias read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring – the book that launched the modern environmental movement. Jerusalem and Matt find themselves surprised by what's actually in it. Is it a visionary scientific critique or a romantic backlash against modernity? And did Carson's legacy help or hurt the cause she championed?

Plus: new research on whether leaving the workforce accelerates cognitive decline and what that means for an AI-driven future.

(0:00) Why Silent Spring Still Matters Today 
(10:13) The Myth of the "Natural Balance" 
(15:12) The genius of the screwworm program
(20:10) Rachel Carson vs. Big Chemical Industry 
(29:13) Environmentalism and Global Economic Growth 
(40:15) Ecomodernism: Can Science Save Nature? 
(49:31) The Rise of the "Vetocracy" in Policy 
(59:43) Peer review: Does Working Keep Your Brain Sharp? 

Peer review: "Does Employment Slow Cognitive Decline? Evidence from Labor Market Shocks" — Kouchekinia, Neumark & Bruckner (NBER): https://www.nber.org/papers/w35117

Support the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.com 

New episodes every Thursday—subscribe so you never miss a debate!

The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.

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