Things don’t have to be this way. This is among the most important things to be learned from the study of subjects like literature, history, art, and philosophy. Every social advancement in human history began with the understanding that things don’t have to be this way. I’m speaking here of human arrangements, of economic systems, political structures, and, yes, even energy regimes. Democracy, the abolition of slavery, women’s right to vote, gay marriage—all were born of the idea that things don’t have to be this way. But in each case, there were many people who simply couldn’t imagine that things could be any other way. Generally, these were the people who benefited most from existing arrangements, but not always. Either way, these resisters often forecasted catastrophe if things were to change. They clung desperately to the idea that this is just the way things are.