Thomas_More
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“In any event, arrogance can only be an attitude of individuals not of a species.”
Agreed.
“It is true that the leading thinkers and traditions used to teach that humans were the most important life-form, that the Earth had been created for them and was the centre of the Universe, etc, etc but that is no longer the dominant view (even if religion still preaches it).”
Long after a belief has been overthrown, its influence remains. Most who accept evolution think it is a progressive thing, with humans the “result” of a mounting towards complexity and superiority.
“… as they could have done for some 150 years.”
Obviously they couldn’t, because they didn’t. “Could have” is like “if”. “I could have bought some paracetamols in the shop.” No you couldn’t, because you didn’t.
We may bring about socialism, or we may not. But whatever we do or not do, we will do what we do, and “could have” will likewise be meaningless.
And I wasn’t talking about sudden annihilation, but normal extinction. I doubt humans will be here anywhere near as long as other species have*, although humans are likely to annihilate more species before we disappear – species whose longevity as life forms dwarf ours.
*For the reason Gould gave, mentioned earlier: the apes (us) are ripe for extinction. (Which can still mean a few million years, which we won’t have at all unless we get rid of capitalism, as I’m sure you’ll agree).
Significant and insignificant are but our terms, as I said.
Supreme arrogance is a quality of the human species alone, as far as we know.
Cruise ship corporations are pushing vulnerable POLAR BEARS closer to EXTINCTION!
Arctic polar bears are already clinging to survival — their fragile habitats are RAPIDLY MELTING AWAY and they are suffering from STARVATION due to the human-driven climate crisis. In fact, the Arctic is warming TWICE AS FAST as the United States.
Meanwhile, profit-driven cruise corporations are making this ecological disaster EVEN WORSE, charging through the Arctic with their massive ships that are causing colossal amounts of hazardous pollution. Carnival Corporation is the biggest culprit, carrying over 11,000 tons of TOXIC heavy fuel oil through essential arctic habitats in a single year.
(Friends of the Earth)And yet, Wez, we will cease to be humans in less than a split-second of cosmic time, and the species will have ceased to be, forever.
Significant and insignificant are but our terms.
ALB, or Wez?
As bears enter their dens for hibernation this winter,they have no idea it could be their last.When spring comes, blooming flowers could be splattered by the blood of mama bears being gunned down while looking for food to provide for their babies — leaving cubs orphaned and alone.
Trophy hunters are tracking down and targeting bears across the U.S., putting them more at risk each day. Mama bears are being torn apart by bullets, leaving their babies to starve, freeze, or fall prey to other species. But private interests are working to remove grizzly bear protections so they can kill more bears and take over the lands they call home — all to turn a profit.
(Friends of the Earth).
And nothing does not exist.
You see nothing when closing your hand in the air. In fact you have just grasped trillions of particles. You walk through clouds of atoms and subatomic particles, which others have breathed in and out, which have formed countless existences and are continuing to do so … mammalian, reptilian, arthropodic, dinosaurine, botanic, your ancestors, of countless species.
You call what is invisible to you a void; I call it a soup.An infinite “void” is ok with me. I would be frightened if other worlds were to threaten our imminent destruction – a wandering gas giant for instance, about to swallow the Earth, but it isn’t likely in our lifetime.
A nuclear war, on the other hand, could be very likely in our lifetime.For you space is an infinite void. For me, I think galaxies, distant exploding suns, stellar clouds etc. are incredibly beautiful and wondrous.
I see space as a rich cosmic soup, bursting with energy and movement. Planets so varied and colourful. To know my atoms and those I have loved will be hurtling through space and forming trillions, zillions, of forms, including life forms, billions of years from now, is exhilarating. What types of conscious life they may even build one day … it’s beyond our perception.
