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Alex Epstein (American writer)

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For other people named Alex Epstein, see Alex Epstein.
Alex Epstein
Epstein in 2018
Epstein in 2018
OccupationAuthor and policy social commentator
LanguageEnglish
NationalityAmerican
EducationBachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Computer Science
Alma materDuke University
SubjectPhilosophy, ethics, energy, environment, industry, fossil fuels
Notable worksThe Moral Case for Fossil Fuels
Website
alexepstein.com

Alexander Joseph Epstein (/ˈɛpstaɪn/) is a libertarian American author and industrial and energy policy commentator.[1] He is the founder and president of the Center for Industrial Progress, a for-profit organization in San Diego, California.[2][3] Epstein is the author of The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels (2014), a bestseller, in which he advocates the use of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas.[4] Epstein is a former adjunct scholar at Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, and a former fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute.[5][6] Epstein has cast doubt on the degree of scientific consensus for climate change and the degree of human impact on the phenomenon.[7][8]

Early life and education

Epstein grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and attended Montgomery County Public Schools, where his favorite subjects were mathematics and science. He has said he was influenced by Ayn Rand, especially her novel Atlas Shrugged, and also Thomas Sowell.[9] He is Jewish but not religious.[10]

He attended Duke University, where for two years he was editor and publisher of The Duke Review. He studied philosophy and computer science, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts.[9][11]

Career

Ayn Rand Institute

From 2004 to 2011, Epstein was a writer and fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute, a non-profit organization in Irvine, California, that promotes Ayn Rand's novels and Objectivism.[12]

Center for Industrial Progress

Center for Industrial Progress
Formation2011
FocusEnergy, industry, fossil fuels
HeadquartersSan Diego, California
President
Alex Epstein
WebsiteIndustrialProgress.com

In 2011 Epstein founded the Center for Industrial Progress (CIP), which he calls a "for-profit think tank".[7]

In 2012, Epstein debated American environmentalist Bill McKibben while representing CIP at an event held at Duke University.[13]

In 2013, Rolling Stone placed Epstein and the Center for Industrial Progress on their list of top Global Warming Deniers.[14] Epstein wrote a rebuttal to the piece in Forbes.[15] In his rebuttal, Epstein also criticizes the term global warming denier, which he claims is a smear tactic intended to liken critics of environmentalism to Holocaust deniers.[15]

In 2014, Epstein and CIP publicly supported the Keystone Pipeline.[16]

In 2015, The Guardian published an opinion piece by Jason Wilson critical of Epstein and CIP, stating, "Epstein's work has been popular and influential on the right because it is a particularly fluent, elaborate form of climate denialism. The CIP prides itself on being able to train corporate leaders to 'successfully outmessage "environmentalists"'."[17] He also criticizes Epstein for being an "ideologue" funded by petrochemical billionaires, the Koch brothers.[17]

In 2016, Epstein testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee at the invitation of the committee's chairman, James Inhofe (R-Okla.), who has called climate change a "hoax." Epstein suggested that rising carbon dioxide levels "benefit plants and Americans." When questioned by committee member Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) as to why Epstein, whose academic training is in philosophy, was even there, Epstein responded, "to teach you how to think clearly." Boxer replied "... you are a philosopher, not a scientist, and I don’t appreciate getting lectured by a philosopher about science."[18][19]

Epstein has contributed opinion pieces to several media outlets on climate and energy issues, including USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and Fox News.[20][21][22]

Controversies

Lack of formal scientific education

After being invited to speak to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee by Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) in 2016, Committee Ranking Member Barbara Boxer (D-CA) questioned Epstein's experience and education, saying how Epstein is "a philosopher and not a scientist."[23]

Claims about Western culture superiority

Epstein, who has argued that fossil fuels are good for developing countries, wrote in 1999 in the Duke Review, a conservative college newspaper, that African countries are inferior to the West.[24] The 1999 article was found by Documented, an investigative group, and reported by the Washington Post in April 2022.[24] In a video response, Epstein denied racial biases but said "Western culture is overall superior," and called for the Washington Post writer, Maxine Joselow, to be fired.[25][third-party source needed]

Published works

  • Fossil Fuels Improve the Planet (2013)
  • The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels (2014)
  • Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas - Not Less

References

  1. ^ "Making the Case for the Benefits of Fossil Fuels". Bloomberg.
  2. ^ Richardson, Valerie. "Pro-fossil fuel advocate roughed up by climate change activists". Washington Times.
  3. ^ Armstrong, Arl Alex Epstein on the Moral Case for Fossil Fuels. "The Objective Standard". January 14, 2015
  4. ^ "Best Selling Science Books". The New York Times. December 15, 2014.
  5. ^ www.cato.org http://www.cato.org/people/alex-epstein. Retrieved April 24, 2020. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)Template:SemiBareRefNeedsTitle
  6. ^ Alex Epstein “The Ayn Rand Institute” January 13, 2015
  7. ^ a b "Texas officials circulated climate skeptic's talking points on power failures during storm". NBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  8. ^ Brasch, Sam. "How Has The Right Shifted Tactics On Climate Change? A Debate In Boulder Had Some Answers". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b Lipana, Joshua (November 17, 2011). "Interview with Alex Epstein, Founder of Center for Industrial Progress". The Objective Standard. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  10. ^ "Unpopular Opinion: Humanity Will FAIL Without Fossil Fuels | Guest: Alex Epstein | 3/31/22 - YouTube". YouTube.
  11. ^ "Energy". Ayn Rand Institute (Press release). September 23, 2008. Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  12. ^ "Alex Epstein". Ayn Rand Institute. Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  13. ^ "DEBATE: McKibben vs. Epstein—Are Fossil Fuels a Risk to the Planet?". EcoWatch.
  14. ^ Rolling Stone (12 September 2013). "Global Warming's Denier Elite". RollingStone.com. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  15. ^ a b Epstein, Alex. "Rolling Stone Attacks Global Warming 'Deniers' As Anti-Science, Then Commits Big Scientific Blunder". Forbes.com. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  16. ^ Hassan, Sara House passes bill on Keystone XL pipeline “Al Jazeera America”. January 13, 2015
  17. ^ a b "There is no moral case for coal in Australia, just an imported PR line". Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  18. ^ "CLIMATE: 'Moral Case for Fossil Fuels' sparks angry Senate debate". www.eenews.net. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  19. ^ "Examining the Role of Environmental Policies on Access to Energy and Economic Opportunity". U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  20. ^ Epstein, Alex. "Warming is mild and manageable: Opposing view". USAToday.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  21. ^ Epstein, Alex (18 August 2010). "Obama Follows Nixon on Oil Spills". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  22. ^ Epstein, Alex (5 March 2015). "Fossil fuels: The moral choice". FoxNews.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  23. ^ Reilly, Amanda (13 April 2016). "'Moral Case for Fossil Fuels' sparks angry Senate debate". E&E News. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  24. ^ a b Joselow, Maxime (6 April 2022). "Advocate promotes fossil fuels for poor nations he once disparaged". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  25. ^ Epstein, Alex (30 March 2022). "WaPo tries to "cancel" Alex Epstein and his book Fossil Future with 100%-false "racism" smear". YouTube. Center for Industrial Progress. Retrieved 16 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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