Energy and Civilisation

Abstract

Animals of all species except one derive their energy mainly from one single source - food. Humans are the exception: they derive most of their energy from food and fuel. Their dependence on fuel reflects the peculiar human bond with fire. The paper presents a brief overview of how the human fire regime was formed, and then transformed by agrarianization (the rise of agriculture, which was primarily focused on the production of food) and industrialization (which until now has been highly fuel-intensive). The entire process can be seen as a continuous process of collective learning or civilization, marked in its current phase by increasing differentiation between specialists with great expertise in dealing with fire and fuel, and the majority of laypeople who are lacking in experience and competence.