We're killing off the only life we know of anywhere in the universe
1–10 of 14 posts
Re: We're killing off the only life we know of anywhere in the universe
#2The same instincts that have given us the world we have now will in time destroy the world we live in.
The accumulation of resources, survival at any cost, the need to find a mate and reproduce without regard to the overall population and ultimately the intelligence to do it above any other species is what ultimately will cause the extinction of the human race unless we are able to overcome our instincts and change our ways.
The irony is that we are suppose to be the smartest species to ever inhabit the earth.
Re: We're killing off the only life we know of anywhere in the universe
#3Now, this thought — we’re killing off the only life we know anywhere in the universe — is impossible to hold. It’s literally quite impossible to process for, I’d say, 99% of people on the planet. You can try, but you’ll fail. What does that make us? Murderers? Genocidaires? Fools? You see what I mean. Now you’re either in denial, despair, frustration, or rage — but what you haven’t done is simply hold the thought, and see what it means.
I've been waiting for this view point to become more prominent. In my view the logical conclusion is; from a moral perspective the only thing we can do is vacate this planet and let evolution continue free of our influence. Who can know what other intelligence may evolve in our absence?
Or maybe I read too much Andre Norton as a lad?
Re: We're killing off the only life we know of anywhere in the universe
#4The crux of the matter: “Life itself dying off because we are trying to use 18th century economics — built for the industrial age — to solve 21st century problems.”
Evolution of economic systems: what comes after capitalism?
Re: We're killing off the only life we know of anywhere in the universe
#5So let's say we can convince people to do this. How would it work? What's the mechanic? Would it be that just x% of profits go into maintaining nature, just as some corporations set aside x% of their profits for charity?
Or something else altogether?
Re: We're killing off the only life we know of anywhere in the universe
#6Genocide seems a likelier solution than pretending you can invent a 'non-capitalist' economic solution that somehow supports 7 billion plus people without causing massive ecological damage.
Re: We're killing off the only life we know of anywhere in the universe
#7I think the jury is still out as to who will win this terrible war of Man Against Nature. One thing is sure though: if Man does win, and Nature becomes completely subjugated, then life is simply not worth living...
Re: We're killing off the only life we know of anywhere in the universe
#8I totally get the ecological argument but how would changing to a socialist system (which is what we're talking about here without saying the word) fix it?
The planet's woes are caused by bad human behavior. There's no rule that says one must be inherently bad in order to have a capitalist business, just like there's no rule that would make a socialist economy naturally non-polluting. Governments and militaries are terrible polluters and they don't have a profit motive.
People are people and collectivism won't change that. Hitler, too, wanted the "New Man." It's dangerous to suggest that letting others decide for us (statism) would be capable of bringing that about.
Re: We're killing off the only life we know of anywhere in the universe
#9Now, this thought — we’re killing off the only life we know anywhere in the universe — is impossible to hold. It’s literally quite impossible to process for, I’d say, 99% of people on the planet. You can try, but you’ll fail. What does that make us? Murderers? Genocidaires? Fools? You see what I mean. Now you’re either in denial, despair, frustration, or rage — but what you haven’t done is simply hold the thought, an…
This is a quasi-religious viewpoint that suggests plants and animals are superior to humans so we should get out of their way. The opposite view, that the planet is here for us can also be used to come around to taking better care of this place we live.
Re: We're killing off the only life we know of anywhere in the universe
#10The crux of the matter: “Life itself dying off because we are trying to use 18th century economics — built for the industrial age — to solve 21st century problems.” Evolution of economic systems: what comes after capitalism?
There is nothing "after" capitalism which hasn't already been tried with disastrous consequences (read: death, starvation, and violence).
Either you own your body, your land, your labor, and your money -- or the state owns them for you. What makes the state a good determiner of what's best for humanity? It doesn't have that great a track record.