Can you debate my opinion as to the fate of the human race?
What’s your opinion as to these points?
Unfortunately, the human race is predisposed to failure. Here are just three of the reasons why.
1) The human race is predisposed to procrastination which means that we will never try to fix something until it’s "in our face". Even then, it has to be "absolutely" proven that it is recognizably affecting our "quality of life" before we will act. For example, take the environmental situation. We still have people (generally for economic reasons) fighting the preponderance of scientific data that indicates we better do something to fix the environment. They seem to think that if they are justified in doing nothing as long as they can find "any little piece of data" which "may" indicate that global warming isn’t occurring. Let me ask you this; is it better to act and later discover that the situation was not as "dire" as we suspected or to do nothing and later discover that it’s too late to fix???
2) We are naturally territorial (yes, like many other creatures). The problem is that the "sticks & stones" (which were replaced by fire, spears, arrows, gunpowder, etc.) we used to kill the challengers to "our territory" in the beginning have evolved into biological and nuclear weapons with the capability to poison the planet. By the way, how does territory get "claimed" anyway? I mean, at some point in the past nobody "owned" any property but now we all think we have the right to "own" that which was never "BOUGHT". BTW, yes, I "own" land and a house but I still stand by my point that neither the former owner nor I actually ever have had or currently have the rights to buy and sell it.
3) We have worldwide leadership that for the most part is either ignorant or indifferent to the truth (or, in the case of the U.S., BOTH). Without leadership, we will never make any headway and, regrettably, I believe that there are too many governments that are more concerned with either staying ahead of or catching up to, everyone else and are willing to accept the consequences of future problems in order reap the "rewards" of today.
Maybe, if we get lucky, we’ll get a “mini” version of the movie “The day after tomorrow” that will force the world into action. Unfortunately, according to the director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, James Hansen (as well as many other scientists), we have 10 or less yrs to turn it around and I don’t think we will. That’s why my wife and I have decided not to bring another life into a world that has more of a negative outlook now than it ever has. Enjoy life and live for the now because too many governments, and many corporations, are steadfast in their path to destroying the future.
March 20th, 2010 at 2:13 am
1) I agree that people are predisposed to procrastination. It was probably a useful characteristic for our caveman ancestors, because they had to work so hard for their food they could not afford to waste energy. It is getting less and less useful though. As you point out Global Warming is a great example because we are just getting started dealing with it. Because the effects are now starting to show up it is way too late to avoid it entirely. However the sooner we start the less severe the consequences will be. The naysayers will come around eventually and we can get a lot done even without their help.
2) I agree that we are territorial but I am not sure that is necessarily bad. It does probably inhibit cooperation somewhat, but humans are also naturally cooperative. That is probably the main reason we are so smart. Scientists think that our big brains evolved mostly to help us deal with our increasingly complex and cooperative social structure. The trick is to exploit territorial qualities. Basically that is how capitalism works. If it is properly regulated the free market can be a powerful positive force. It could help with Global Warming if we change our tax system so that instead of taxing income we tax emission of CO2. Then capitalism would be working hard to try to figure out a way to reduce taxes by reduce CO2 emissions.
3) Leadership in the world is I think both better informed and more competent that you seem to think. Most foreign countries signed the Kyoto Accord for example and we would have ratified if it were not for Bush. Certainly I agree that he is the exception. He is both ignorant and incompetent. Fortunately we have to survive only a few more years of the boob, and hopefully a more competent person who knows something will be elected like Al Gore for instance.
Global Warming will be solved sooner or later and no mater how it goes humans will survive it, although it may not be much fun. Once we come out the other side the humans will have a very sound basis to go forward in the future. By the time we have figured out how to deal with Global Warming our population will have stabilized and we will be using nothing but renewable energy sources. We will of necessity have learned by that point how to live sustainably on the planet. I remain hopeful that even the near future say the next 100 years or so will not be near as bad as many people are starting to fear. Have hope.
March 20th, 2010 at 2:13 am
The fact that mankind has survived and prospered despite everything from asteroids to holocausts to terrorism disproves your main point. Man is here to succeed, despite all.
March 20th, 2010 at 2:13 am
You Raise Valid Points
The MAIN Reason The Human Race Is Doomed To Extinction
Will Be Lack Of Resources
Namely Food
There Is No Possible Way
That We Can Continue To Feed The Worlds Population
At The Exponential Rate That It (Population) Is Growing
We Will Starve Ourselves
March 20th, 2010 at 2:13 am
I don’t think it is humanity in general that has the problem. Most people I know want a cleaner, safer, and friendlier world. The problem lies in the world’s leaders and the people with the money. People with money are in business’ that are not the most eco-friendly. But they have the money, and thus, the power. They do what the want with the planet, and to blazes with the common man. Oil, deforestation, and military spending are among the chief causes. I believe that this planet is overpopulated, as well. I think that every country should limit the amount of kids you can have, just as China does. What we need to do, is put more knowledgeable people in command. Rather than the idiots that a lot of countries have. Including our own.