SKU: 44248626285

Tragedy in Mouse Utopia: An Ecological Commentary on Human Utopia

Sale price$14.31 Regular price$15.90
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $3.98 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 28 - Aug 2

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Tragedy in Mouse Utopia: An Ecological Commentary on Human UtopiaIn 1968 John B. Calhoun, American behavioral ecologist, introduced eight mice into a technologically designed walled enclosure that fulfilled all the wants and needs of mice except migration in and out. Over a 41 2 year period the population exploded into a colony of 2200 mice, and then slowly and inexorably declined to extinction. Deprived of motherly love early in life, and denied access to social roles later in life, young mice grew up without

In 1968 John B. Calhoun, American behavioral ecologist, introduced eight mice into a technologically designed walled enclosure that fulfilled all the wants and needs of mice except migration in and out. Over a 41/2 year period the population exploded into a colony of 2200 mice, and then slowly and inexorably declined to extinction. Deprived of motherly love early in life, and denied access to social roles later in life, young mice grew up without knowing how to behave as mice. This book examines whether a similar fate could be in store for Human Utopia.
Part I compares the suicidal effects of runaway growth in Mouse Utopia to a similar sequence of events in Human Utopia. Part II describes our dependence on the Biosphere. Part III shows how the runaway growth of technology and population is creating havoc in our species and the Biosphere. How an inner life-force symbolized as "the Sorcerer" causes populations to self-destruct by satisfying internal desires beyond their useful times. As the Sorcerer's apprentices, we have been preparing the ground for a crisis of crises beyond human control. Part IV describes how the Sorcerer works and how to control his destructive traits. Political, spiritual and behavioral opportunities are identified that could be overlooked, misinterpreted or ignored in steering a course toward coevolution of humanity and the Biosphere.
Victor J. Crapnell: "Interesting, yes; and scary "
Johnny Biosphere: "This book is remedial reading fom some ecologists, most employees of enviornmental protection agencies, and most forward looking businessmen and politicians."
Economist Tom Muir interviews ecologist J.R. Vallentyne on "Tragedy in Mouse Utopia: The Sorcerer Lurks Within" 2006. Trafford Publishing, 2333 Government St. Victoria BC, V8T 4P4, Canada.
Muir: Dr. Vallentyne, you claim that the global course of "Human Utopia" since the 14th century has been following the 41/2 year march to extinction of a mouse colony provided with everything that mice could want. You seem to dismiss the "magic of the marketplace." What about human innovation and invention? Men are not mice
Vallentyne: My comparison is not between men and mice. It is between the behavior of mice and humans when both are driven to excesses by a runaway cycle of growth of technology and population. The marketplace accelerates the runaway cycle by feeding human desires rather than limiting human growth.
Muir: Yet another global treatise on this subject in addition to Malthus, The Club of Rome, and Global 2000??? Don't you think the public and political reaction will be to shrug and move on?
Vallentyne: Possibly, but I have added three new dimensions to the discussion: (1) a runaway cycle of intertwined growth of technology and population, jointly; (2) a change of context from an era of "upward causation" in which exponential growth is normal, to an era of "downward causation" in which continued growth is suicidal; and (3) the psychological-behavioral nature of the problem in both mice and humans. Malthus, it seems, is not yet entirely dead.
Muir: What makes you think that we may be on the brink of globally disastrous feedback from the Biosphere? I do not think that you are even close to evaluating the influence of different time scales in your analysis.
Vallentyne: Look around. Biospheric feedback is here now and increasing Differences in timescales create the problem
Muir: What do you have to say to the eternal optimist and the resigned pessimist?
Vallentyne: Nothing. Realists and pragmatists are needed.
Muir: If destruction takes place in 500 to 1000 years, who cares?
Vallentyne: Nobody - except humanitarians, environmentalists, most women and all children.
Muir: Does our global technological society have to crash? Isn't it possible that human society will ignore your work?
Vallentyne: My book poses these questions, but does not presume to answer them. My aim has been to identify contexts and probabilities that shape the answers.
Muir: You describe "a Sorcerer within" as a mastermind of the cravings behind The Seven Deadly Sins. Isn't that just a little bit far-fetched?
Vallentyne: Not at all. The notion of the Sorcerer has more in common with our perceptions of reality than science or psychology can ever convey. naming the mastermind of the cravings could be key to controlling the Sins.
Muir: Given the inability of individuals to overcome the inertia and change the direction of politicians, how can you possibly conclude that our only real hope lies in faith?
Vallentyne: Faith is not unique to religion. It is inherent in the nature of life. As Dostoyevsky noted in The Brothers Karamazov: To a realist, faith does not arise form miracles; miracles arise from faith.
Muir: Has Calhoun's experiment ever been repeated?
Vallentyne: Yes, it is being repeated right now; in Human Utopia For an update on Human Utopia, read Scott Wooding's insightful book The Parenting Crisis.
Muir: What is the bottom line of your book? What is the take-away message?
Vallentyne: At a personallevel: Do unto the ecosystems that you share with others as you would have others do unto the ecosystems they share with you. Politically: Put the concept of the Biosphere (or Ecosphere, if you prefer) into the charter of the United Nations.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
Published: 03/16/2006
ISBN: 9781412056335
Pages: 212
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.48d
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 44248626285

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.8 ★★★★★
Based on 30 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
N
Verified Purchase
Nykea
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 3
Works well, but very difficult to remove!
Color: Silver
Perspective: Ive had this caddy for 3 years and it has suited me well. Over time the hooks that hold the caddy in place loosened and the caddy would occasionally fall off the side of the sink wall. Not a huge deal, just a small inconvenience. Over time it started to happen more often because the plastic hooks completely lost their grip so I decided to replace it. Well it literally took me 3 days to get it off of the side of my sink. Using different tools to jimmy it off because the adhesive is sooo strong (which is a good thing, until you are looking to remove it). It took a razor blade and several bouts of goo gone to get the whole thing off as well as the leftover adhesive. The fact that it lasted for 3 years is a testament that it is a good product, but it lost several stars for the drama and pain and suffering it took to remove. I wont be buying another one.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2024
B
Verified Purchase
Bria
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Good For Deep Sinks
Color: Silver
This item is very sturdy however the piece on the outside that holds your rag tends to slip or lay flat all the time. The adhesive is very strong to the point where I needed to use a tool to get it off while moving, so you’ll never have to worry about it popping off your sink! I can only figure that this fits in all sinks because at my old apartment I had a very small sink the only thing I didn’t like due to having a small sink my rag was always touching the bottom of the sink and there wasn’t any space left in the side I had it on. If you have a big sink I’d suggest this item because it looks nice and it gives your wash cloth and sponge a home in the kitchen!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2024
M
Verified Purchase
Mother of dragons
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Cute soap and sponge caddy
Color: Black
Good product! I like how the water drips down into the sink. Instead of on the back of the sink. Helps keep the area cleaner and dry.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2026
K
Verified Purchase
Kaitland
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Worth it!!!
Color: Black
Sturdy metal, easy to put together, works well, looks nice on the counter... holds the wash brush, dawn dish spray, (at an angle), and the sink stopper. Definitely woth the money!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2026
C
Verified Purchase
Cayla Salazar
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 5
Saves Space
Color: Lacquer Silver, Color: Lacquer Silver
I LOVE this sink caddy! It’s the perfect size to fit my sponge and dish soap dispenser. It makes the sink look cleaner.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2026

recommand products