Humans

[champjklccmk]

Hey guys... This is only the second topic I've brought up, so forgive me if it seems inappropriate... Also, I couldn't find a topic like this but I could be mistaken... So if ever that was the case, then I apologize...

Here are my questions:

1. Does the existence of humans have any benefit to the world?
2. Should humans even be allowed to exist?
3. Would Earth be better off had we never evolved?

Thanks in advance for the answers.

P.S.

There might be additional questions later on depending on the answers that come up. And if anyone wishes to put up other inquiries regarding anything related to this topic then feel free to do so...

 

[lrkun]

Hey guys... This is only the second topic I've brought up, so forgive me if it seems inappropriate... Also, I couldn't find a topic like this but I could be mistaken... So if ever that was the case, then I apologize...

Here are my questions:

1. Does the existence of humans have any benefit to the world?
2. Should humans even be allowed to exist?
3. Would Earth be better off had we never evolved?

Thanks in advance for the answers.

P.S.

There might be additional questions later on depending on the answers that come up. And if anyone wishes to put up other inquiries regarding anything related to this topic then feel free to do so...

These questions are difficult to answer. I don't know where to begin. I don't have any basis or something to lay foundations to give you. Sorry mate. I'm no philosopher. Hehe.

 

[Aught3]

I'm of the opinion that value judgements can only come from minds so I can't really answer the question until you give us that basis. It sounds like you are hinting at the idea that natural would be better, in which case the world would be better off without humans. But that seems kind of circular.

 

[champjklccmk]

I'm of the opinion that value judgements can only come from minds so I can't really answer the question until you give us that basis. It sounds like you are hinting at the idea that natural would be better, in which case the world would be better off without humans. But that seems kind of circular.

Um, I'm sorry but could you elaborate on that please?

 

[Aught3]

Define 'better'.

 

[lrkun]

Are humans necessary?

Nature without humans.

Nature with humans.

The world's better off without us, but that's my biased opinion.

Nature and humans working together. Kind of.

 

[Prolescum]

1. Does the existence of humans have any benefit to the world?

Yes, trees like carbon dioxide.

2. Should humans even be allowed to exist?

They already do; no point crying over spilt milk.

3. Would Earth be better off had we never evolved?

No, because for some unfathomable (to us) reason, she needed plastic.

 

[champjklccmk]

1. Does the existence of humans have any benefit to the world?

Yes, trees like carbon dioxide.

2. Should humans even be allowed to exist?

They already do; no point crying over spilt milk.

3. Would Earth be better off had we never evolved?

No, because for some unfathomable (to us) reason, she needed plastic.

Ahahaha, I just watched George Carlin talk about that on YouTube! It really opened my eyes... I used to really hate what we were doing to the planet... Now I just stand back and let nature deal with things...

 

[Zerosix]

1. Does the existence of humans have any benefit to the world?

We are part of the food chain, we give plant life C02, help with transportation of plant seeds, etc

2. Should humans even be allowed to exist?

Allowed by whom?

3. Would Earth be better off had we never evolved?

If we hadn't evolved the way we have then the Earth would probably be a different place than it is today. Since we can only speculate on what this alternative Earth would look like. We can't really apply a value judgement.

 

[champjklccmk]

Define 'better'.

Oh, nothing really complicated... I was reffering to the thought of if we weren't here screwing the planet up...

 

[champjklccmk]

Hey guys... This is only the second topic I've brought up, so forgive me if it seems inappropriate... Also, I couldn't find a topic like this but I could be mistaken... So if ever that was the case, then I apologize...

Here are my questions:

1. Does the existence of humans have any benefit to the world?
2. Should humans even be allowed to exist?
3. Would Earth be better off had we never evolved?

Thanks in advance for the answers.

P.S.

There might be additional questions later on depending on the answers that come up. And if anyone wishes to put up other inquiries regarding anything related to this topic then feel free to do so...

These questions are difficult to answer. I don't know where to begin. I don't have any basis or something to lay foundations to give you. Sorry mate. I'm no philosopher. Hehe.

No prob man... Thanks for dropping by anyway...

 

[champjklccmk]

1. Does the existence of humans have any benefit to the world?

We are part of the food chain, we give plant life C02, help with transportation of plant seeds, etc

2. Should humans even be allowed to exist?

Allowed by whom?

Nature... I think...

3. Would Earth be better off had we never evolved?

If we hadn't evolved the way we have then the Earth would probably be a different place than it is today. Since we can only speculate on what this alternative Earth would look like. We can't really apply a value judgement.

Say it's the same... That the only difference is that we're not here... What then?

 

[Squawk]

We are screwing up the planet, for us. The earth itself will be perfectly happy with increased CO2 and a much warmer climate, humans won't be, and in an effort to survive we'll probably rape the planet anyway.

As for better, better is a subjective term. What is "better" for a planet? I have no idea. Some other species have benefitted massively from humans, others have gone extinct (too many due to human activity). But better? Not a scooby.

 

[Zerosix]

Say it's the same... That the only difference is that we're not here... What then?

Well there wouldn't be any made-made pollution around so that would be a good thing.

But I predict that some other sentient life form whether it evolved on Earth or had an alien origin would eventually turn up and start messing with the percieved balance of nature.

 

[Anachronous Rex]

I get a sense of what I think you mean... you are referring to the stability of the biosphere, no? I mean, the rock itself is probably not going to be significantly effected by our presence either way...

I would point out two things:
1) While human being have demonstrated a considerable ability to destabilize the biosphere thus-far, we are also the only species on the planet with the ability to consciously repair said damage; we are also the only species that might be able to mitigate the impact of naturally occurring disasters, which could conceivably have a devastating impact on life on Earth. No other species, for instance, would or could stop a large asteroid from impacting the planet.

2) This may just be my anthropic bias here... but to me it seems meaningful. No other species cares what happens to the biosphere or other species (excepting obviously that predators care if their prey die out, symbiotic relationships, etc.) Without humans extinct animals are forgotten, a dead biosphere ignored by an uncaring universe. Without humans, Earth's history is like a library full of endless volumes never opened. No one will mourn our passing, but we alone can mourn theirs. This, to me justifies our existence.

 

[champjklccmk]

I get a sense of what I think you mean... you are referring to the stability of the biosphere, no? I mean, the rock itself is probably not going to be significantly effected by our presence either way...

I would point out two things:
1) While human being have demonstrated a considerable ability to destabilize the biosphere thus-far, we are also the only species on the planet with the ability to consciously repair said damage; we are also the only species that might be able to mitigate the impact of naturally occurring disasters, which could conceivably have a devastating impact on life on Earth. No other species, for instance, would or could stop a large asteroid from impacting the planet.

2) This may just be my anthropic bias here... but to me it seems meaningful. No other species cares what happens to the biosphere or other species (excepting obviously that predators care if their prey die out, symbiotic relationships, etc.) Without humans extinct animals are forgotten, a dead biosphere ignored by an uncaring universe. Without humans, Earth's history is like a library full of endless volumes never opened. No one will mourn our passing, but we alone can mourn theirs. This, to me justifies our existence.

Interesting... I see your point...

I suppose with us being the only species with brains powerful enough to have self awareness and a general idea of our role on this planet, our non-existence would be quite depressing to fathom... Earth herself has been here even before we evolved and will continue to be here long after we've become extinct... So with us being the only ones able to recognize her for what she is does give some merit to why we're even here...

If only that had been enough for us...

 

[Anachronous Rex]

I get a sense of what I think you mean... you are referring to the stability of the biosphere, no? I mean, the rock itself is probably not going to be significantly effected by our presence either way...

I would point out two things:
1) While human being have demonstrated a considerable ability to destabilize the biosphere thus-far, we are also the only species on the planet with the ability to consciously repair said damage; we are also the only species that might be able to mitigate the impact of naturally occurring disasters, which could conceivably have a devastating impact on life on Earth. No other species, for instance, would or could stop a large asteroid from impacting the planet.

2) This may just be my anthropic bias here... but to me it seems meaningful. No other species cares what happens to the biosphere or other species (excepting obviously that predators care if their prey die out, symbiotic relationships, etc.) Without humans extinct animals are forgotten, a dead biosphere ignored by an uncaring universe. Without humans, Earth's history is like a library full of endless volumes never opened. No one will mourn our passing, but we alone can mourn theirs. This, to me justifies our existence.

Interesting... I see your point...

I suppose with us being the only species with brains powerful enough to have self awareness and a general idea of our role on this planet, our non-existence would be quite depressing to fathom... Earth herself has been here even before we evolved and will continue to be here long after we've become extinct... So with us being the only ones able to recognize her for what she is does give some merit to why we're even here...

If only that had been enough for us...

I might also point out that, while it is a fantastic risk the biosphere has taken in giving rise to us, it may ultimately be the key to its proliferation. If humans ever do make it to the stars in a big way we are probably going to spread some life around, and what sort of life would we spread? Well terrestrial life of course! Humanity may, in fact, be the only chance life on this doomed little rock has at perpetuating itself past the death of our star.

 

[DeusExNihilum]

1. Yes, It makes it more interesting.

2. As far as I'm aware we didn't ask permission to exist in the first place. Existence was thrust upon us, not given through intent. Anyway, yes, For essentially the same reason as above - Humans are interesting, do interesting things, and discover interesting things. Most other animal life is boring and only becomes interesting when looked at through human eyes.

3. Life on earth would be different, but better? No. Again, it would be dull, boring and monotonous.

 

[Yfelsung]

At the atomic level and lower, the idea of "Better" or "Benefit" break down.

The atoms continue to exist, or the material that constructs them, regardless of their configuration.

Value based statements require a view of the universe is somehow more than the sum of its parts. This is a view I do not share so I am incapable of answering the OP without a frame of reference as to what they consider "better".

Life and death are largely irrelevant on a universal scale.

 

[Master_Ghost_Knight]

1. Does the existence of humans have any benefit to the world?

Better to whom? for what? The planet? The planet doesn't care because it is an inanimated object.

2. Should humans even be allowed to exist?

Pfft... did we had a choice?

3. Would Earth be better off had we never evolved?

Who cares?

(rectorical questions, understand them to understand my views)