The bottleneck which E.O. Wilson discusses pertains to modern day humans, their lifestyle and the consequences of it. He repeatedly stresses the seriousness of the present situations that humanity has put itself in. Population and scientific advance, both continually increase and exponentially high rates. Rates that are so high in fact, that the earth and its natural resources, on which all life depends can not keep up.
As the human population,currently over 6 billion individuals, continues to grow the amount of space and necessitates required to sustain them also increases. In order to reach these needs that the growing population has people, especially the scientists and businessmen of the world stay at work improving old ideas and coming up with new ones. There are advances in all fields of study and commerce. Even beyond that, changes in those areas create changes in human culture and their life. Technological and medical advances, like antibiotics, refrigeration, vaccinations, purified water, and planes make it possible for humans to live longer, travel further, and be more “productive” in their lifetime.
These oh-so-wonderful advances make enrich culture but they come at a high price to the environment and its resources. This involves the obliteration of entire ecosystems and the deterioration of many others and the species residing there. While the economist argues that these occurrences are merely part of a phase that is to be expected, is normal, and will pass the educated mind of an ecologist knows better.
Such an ecologist, or even a high school student can infer that that economist may be correct about certain things that were part of such a statement. These occurrences are to be expected. Why not? The treatment of the earth by humans could not truly yield any other result except destruction. While deeming such events in the world as a normality can not hold, the second part that is true is that this will pass.
Time can not be stopped, and continually presses on. Stating that this is all a phase might be true. If so, however it would be a phase of the world not of humanity. For if such a “phase” is allowed to continue it will be the last humans ever act on. Eventually this “bottleneck” will pass, or hopefully something will pass survive passing through. The important question remains is who will be left when it does, and what will they be left with?




