Based Camp | Simone & Malcolm Collins Humans Are Different: Accepting This Is Critical for Space Travel
Sep 19, 2025
Malcolm and Simone explore the intriguing idea of cultural carrying capacity, revealing how culture influences population sustainability. They discuss diverse examples, from Appalachia to Israel, illustrating the impact of technology and genetics on societies. Controversial topics arise, such as demographic collapse and ethnic cartels. The hosts also liken cultural groups to different species, highlighting the varied capacities for community building both on Earth and in potential space colonies. It's a thought-provoking conversation about humanity's future!
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Culture Shapes Carrying Capacity
- Carrying capacity is usually seen as an environmental limit like food and water.
- Malcolm reframes it as cultural: which culture lives there changes how many people the region can support.
Appalachian Student Claims Overpopulation
- Malcolm recounts a college student from Appalachia claiming their region 'overbred' and exceeded carrying capacity.
- Malcolm challenges that view, arguing people can migrate or use trade and technology to sustain higher populations.
Technology Decouples Population From Land
- Malcolm argues modern trade and technology decouple human carrying capacity from local agricultural limits.
- Importing food, urban agriculture, and energy technologies raise a region's effective capacity dramatically.