Glossary of Definitions

X-Flow

X-Flow (n): The constant flow of inputs of land, labor, and capital needed to produce useful outputs in the extractive production system. These inputs are external, excludable, extractive, and depleting.

Growth Imperative

Growth Imperative (n): The need to maximize growth, over the timescales that matter competitively (economically, technologically, militarily, and geographically), which results from the competitive dynamics that stem from a production system that needs a constant flow of scarce inputs.

Extractive Technology

Extractive Technology (n): Technology that requires a constant flow of finite, scarce materials and labor to produce useful outputs, with toxic outputs as an inevitable by-product.

Extraction

Extraction (n): The era when civilizations emerged built around the need to maintain a constant flow of inputs (X-flow) into a production system.

Stellar Technology

Stellar Technology (n): Technology that produces useful output with no extractive flow of inputs and no toxic outputs.

Stellar System

Stellar System (n): A system (business model, value chain, market structure/regulatory framework, ownership model) based on Stellar technologies.

Radiance

Radiance (n): The capacity to use the super production of energy and labor inherent in a Stellar production system to help restore the destruction of extraction.

Ignition Point

Ignition Point (n): The point at which Stellar technologies have enough super production embodied that they can produce output with no further extractive input. The system becomes capable of sustaining itself indefinitely and increasing its output.

Stellar World

Stellar World (n): A society organized around a production system based on Stellar technologies, where land, labor, and capital are embodied in the system. People and planet transcend the system of production.

Rupture Point

Rupture Point (n): The point at which the negative feedbacks keeping a system stable break down. Change becomes inevitable.

Chimera

Chimera (n): A compromised product, “solution,” or system that arises from placing Stellar technologies within extractive organizing structures.

Band-aid

Band-aid (n): An intervention to staunch or redirect the X-flow. Not a cure. (Might have some benefit in buying time, alleviating symptoms, or preventing collapse temporarily.)