This would be to choose death ultimately

It is barely if we talk about yet. Triumphant yesterday, the expansion now appears to be that old Moon, an almost good idea for the Museum or even a dangerous illusion. Gone are the days where the economy dreamed of still more. She cares today that recession or minute times. PIs: it course a decrease or an irreversible change in world view. The belief of growth without limit and waiting for an indefinite progress are ranger accessories store.

However, this pessimism which is realistic risk to fall into the opposite excess: by fighting a thoughtless trust, it can install a distrust unnecessary, so harmful to the very idea of expansion. Of course, it is essential to integrate our thoughts the limited nature of global energy resources. Of course, it is urgent to contain certain harmful effects of our industrial activities and our lifestyles. But does that mean that one must shed the expansion with warming water

It would be a worse mental pollution to adopt mortification, austerity, the reduced. This would be to choose death, ultimately. Because the expansion, if it thinks there is inseparable from the life. All living increases, extends, is increasing and growing. Starting with the universe itself, as we know especially since the work of Hubble. More on our human scale, is expanding. Humanity, all in all, not is as relentless expansion geographic, demographic, scientific, technical. This movement extension and enlargement occurs in the life of the individual: each is usually to find out more, to understand better, to expand its capacity to act. This is not a matter of character, time or culture, it is a constant Foundation of human existence.

A perfect philosophical development of this movement that animates the world and the life was given by Spinoza. It shows how the increase in our capacity leads to joy. Conversely the joy us dilates, increases our power to act, leverages our opportunities. Conversely, the sadness, and everything like it, we retract and we shrink, tighten our fibres, decreases our capabilities. Symmetrically, which structures off us and makes us become sullen. Expansion: joy. Retraction: sadness.

It is therefore not without reason that we prefer, intuitively, expansive people to those who are taciturnes and opaque. In the affective domain, as in communication, the expansion marks the refusal of the downturn, the taste of sharing. In fact, expansion goes to the other, multiply contacts, links noue. Flaubert, in his correspondence, in 1850, has this nice formula: "I can't watch in silence." I need screams, of gestures, expansion; need I hangover, I break chairs, in a word that I call others to participate in my pleasure.

No doubt can be objected that domination expansions (wars of conquest, economic domination) move others to subject rather than to share with them emotions. Any expansion is not good, obviously. But there is too a tendency, these days, believing that all expansions are bad, which is stupid. If it is no longer a question to seek growth at any price, is not a reason for advocating that less is better in all cases.

If reason keep, it will try to worry about the planet, not being irresponsible or reckless, but without sinking as the grief failure of expansion. Because, on this side, which facing us, if we take not custody, it is the deadly dream of quitting, withdrawal, sad ideology the overcautiousness inward. And the slow extinction: less... and ultimately, death.