Myth of superabundance

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The myth of superabundance is a term coined by US politician Stewart Udall — a member of the Democratic Party — in 1964 in his book The Quiet Crisis. The term refers to the belief that Earth has more than sufficient natural resources to satisfy humanity's wants.

Udall described the myth as the belief that there was "so much land, so much water, so much timber, so many birds and beasts"^[1]: 22 that humans did not envision a time where the planet would not replenish what had been sowed.

According to Stewart Udall the myth of superabundance was replaced in the 20th century by the myth of scientific supremacy: the belief that science can eventually find a solution to any problem.^[1]: 178 This leads to behaviors which, while recognizing that resources are not infinite, still fail to properly preserve those resources, putting the problem off to future generations to solve through science.^[1] "Present the repair bill to the next generation" is their silent motto.^[1]: 178

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