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Should we forbid scientific research ?
Economic growth is not sustainable. Research, which is one of the pillars of economic growth, contributes to current environmental disasters and social inequalities. Conversely, research is often presented as part of the solution : many institutions and actors call for more funding of research to fuel so-called "green growth". We will argue that this attitude combines a headlong rush similar to the coyote who does not notice the absence of firm ground under his feet, and an ostrich-like denial like burying one’s head in the sand.
In fact, green growth’ minor version promises to simultaneously pursue growth and decrease carbon emissions. It is short-sighted, and we will propose tools to analyze its "false good ideas". Conversely, the major version promises to pursue growth while decreasing the overall consumption of energy and matter resources as well as environmental impact. This is naive, and faces obstacles linked with thermodynamics principles.
We will examine alternative suggestions based on accepting limits, and giving up the race for power. We will discuss the definition, conditions and consequences of "degrowth". The obstacles it faces are hard but not impossible to overcome, since they originate from humans rather than from thermodynamics.