Entropy, Liberty and Catastrophe: The Physics and Metaphysics of Waste Disposal

摘要: Georges Bataille in La Part Maudite (1967, pp.57–80) has suggested that one of the best ways seeking insights into a society’s ruling principles, is through looking at what it does with surpluses able to generate. A contrast frequently made between modern industrial societies which practise, more or less successfully, constant accumulation capital stocks; and many non-industrial past (and some still present) practice ritualised decumulation on more-or-less cyclical basis, consumption variety festivals (e.g. famous potlatch), monumental constructions religious symbolic rationales, so on. However draws our attention fact that, notwithstanding avowed drive, we nonetheless do practise — for example military excursions (Vietnam, Middle East Persian Gulf), expenditures space exploration, road accidents.