What about the Maximum Power Principle (Howard Odum's proposed 4th Law of Thermodynamics) ? According to the MPP living systems (including cells, fruit flies, alligators, dogs, humans, etc., etc.) tend to organize in a way that uses the maximum available energy as fast as possible. NOT as efficiently as possible. AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. We are living systems and we are simply born to behave in a "growth" way. Perhaps being aware of the problem (like an addict who stays away from a bottle of whiskey) may help for a while, but can this basic biology be changed??? We are biological beings, whether we like it or not. If available energy is curtailed, as peak oil says, then people may die when they're not in their 80s, but instead in their 60s and start families when they are younger. But sticking to a plan to stabilize population and dictate no growth seems like it would not be popular (look at China). People want growth (even if it is denied they'll try to get it or die trying to get it) and they'll still fight wars to get resources to support their own group's (nation's, tribe's, etc,) growth even if it's just the tribe across the river and they're just fighting with sticks and rocks. Anthropologists even characterize war as something that relieves population pressure.
It doesn't matter if you think you're above the MPP, or that you don't like it and don't want to play by its rules. Perhaps certain segments of society (Henry David Thoreau, some ascetics, religious figures, etc.) have opted out of the MPP but most people (99.99%) wouldn't dream of acting contrary to the MPP.