David L Posted January 16, 2013 Posted January 16, 2013 On a previous thread, Mr. Capitalism wrote "There may be cheap energy, but there isn't free energy..." First off, and fortunately for us, our sun isn't a business, and so we are never charged for the energy it lights and warms us with on a sunny day. Would you first agree on this point. :-)
lyghtningrod Posted January 16, 2013 Posted January 16, 2013 The sun isn't an economic good, it would be considered a general condition. The solar panels used to collect the energy are economic goods and subject to all the usual laws of economics.
David L Posted January 16, 2013 Author Posted January 16, 2013 The sun isn't an economic good, it would be considered a general condition. Of...free energy...right?
MrCapitalism Posted January 16, 2013 Posted January 16, 2013 The sun will eventually burn itself out of existence.... that's the cost of "free" energy. But that's not the point... like other's said, that's beyond the scope of human action and economics. I will concede that the energy radiated by the Sun is produced without cost, is unlimited (only a couple hundred square feet of ground recieves enough energy from the sun to power the every electrical device on the planet), and is freely accessable to anybody who is willing to utilize it... So yes. I agree. Now here's my argument: we are not plants. It costs time, energy, and resources to extract and transform solar energy into something usable.
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