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That was a good read. However, it seems like the section on geo engineering does exactly what the rest tries to warn against: predicting behavior using simplified first order models.

I'm biased towards believing the conclusion the author draws, but the reasoning here is suspect.

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My understanding on the section on geoengineering is that it's merely pointing out that the underlying dynamic of the whole system wouldn't change with a new technology. The dynamic in question is that humans are applying too much pressure on their environment, the CO2 emissions are only a symptom.

In the fox-rabbit analogy, the fox (humans) find a way to eat rabbits that increases the delta parameter but the equations themselves don't change.

It seems like a good example of recently learning a principle. Enough time and effort passed that they gained a working understanding of a noteworthy aspect but have yet to integrate it.

Their presentation is on complex systems, but the author’s thought process still develops linearly and rationally.

From what I can see they identified the problem and a solution, underdeveloped the solution, and presented the result anyway.

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