Good presentation, John! 👏 Humans are (so far as we can tell) the only species that can understand when its behavior is threatening to destroy most/all of a species, has some degree of "choice" about doing that, and largely decides "Meh. No big deal. Let's keep on going". A minority of humans can feel compassion for non-human beings (especially the non-cute variety) and grief at their annihilation (eco-depression). The rest view most living beings as an IT to be consumed rather than another center of consciousness. Given our population size and disruptive technologies, more extinctions than baseline are likely going forward.
"The Garden of Eden is upon the Earth, but people will not see it". -- Joseph Campbell
Indeed, we might also be the only species to know we will die. This sets a wierd mental and emotional dynamic with the illusion of choice. My contention is that we could choose but we don't, making the saving the whale and the grief more like guilt.
Meanwhile we mess with the garden. Already 96% of mammal biomass is humans (36%) and livestock (60%), so extinctions above the base rate are inevitable. Plus we are plundering the soil, where much of the biodiversity resides, to feed ourselves.
Honestly, it's a mess.
If we truly have a choice, then we are making poor ones for our own long term well being. I wrote a book about what we could do instead… More than the rare things.
Despite a few "higher" cognitive functions, we just aren't really all that different than other primates/mammals. That insight helps me lower my expectations for a timely course correction. A mess indeed.
Good presentation, John! 👏 Humans are (so far as we can tell) the only species that can understand when its behavior is threatening to destroy most/all of a species, has some degree of "choice" about doing that, and largely decides "Meh. No big deal. Let's keep on going". A minority of humans can feel compassion for non-human beings (especially the non-cute variety) and grief at their annihilation (eco-depression). The rest view most living beings as an IT to be consumed rather than another center of consciousness. Given our population size and disruptive technologies, more extinctions than baseline are likely going forward.
"The Garden of Eden is upon the Earth, but people will not see it". -- Joseph Campbell
Indeed, we might also be the only species to know we will die. This sets a wierd mental and emotional dynamic with the illusion of choice. My contention is that we could choose but we don't, making the saving the whale and the grief more like guilt.
Meanwhile we mess with the garden. Already 96% of mammal biomass is humans (36%) and livestock (60%), so extinctions above the base rate are inevitable. Plus we are plundering the soil, where much of the biodiversity resides, to feed ourselves.
Honestly, it's a mess.
If we truly have a choice, then we are making poor ones for our own long term well being. I wrote a book about what we could do instead… More than the rare things.
Despite a few "higher" cognitive functions, we just aren't really all that different than other primates/mammals. That insight helps me lower my expectations for a timely course correction. A mess indeed.
Just another ape species programmed to make more. Oh, well, would you like another cup of coffee?
Cream and sugar, please!