Sanity Check
Welcome to Sanity Check (formerly Created to Reign), a production of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation. On this podcast, Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, Dr. David Legates, and experts in science, economics, theology, ethics, and public policy strive to think Biblically about creation care, global warming, and the world’s poor.
Sanity Check
Is Capitalism Bad for the Environment? Part 2
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In this episode, Cal Beisner takes on a common claim at the heart of modern environmental debates: that capitalism is inherently harmful to the natural world. Engaging directly with leading environmental critiques—especially those of Gus Speth—he examines whether capitalism is truly indifferent to nature or dependent on endless, unsustainable growth.
Drawing on economic reasoning, historical evidence, and a Biblical framework, this episode challenges the assumption that markets and environmental stewardship are at odds. Instead, it explores how responsibility, incentives, and human behavior—not abstract systems—shape environmental outcomes.
This is the first installment in a series addressing some of the most serious criticisms of capitalism. Upcoming episodes will tackle questions of resource depletion, consumerism, and long-term sustainability.
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