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What evidence do you have that the human species is capable of surviving to the end of this century, given the realities we face regarding abrupt climate change?

KarlHannah 5 Apr 23
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We may not, I'm not as sanguine as some of the other commenters. But life will go on & so will the planet, at least until the sun starts to expand. There's nothing all that special about us as a species unless we make it so, & poisoning the planet isn't really a good sign.

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If we can survive TRUMP'S Presidency...we can survive ANYTHING!!!

That does not inspire much hope.

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What evidence would prove that? The planet is much changed with pollution since other major climate changes so it would be hard to know

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Life on this planet has existed for thousands of years and we are the most intelligent species that has ever existed here capable of solving more problems than all of the others combined. There is no question that there will be humans alive on this planet when 2100 rolls around.

"we are the most intelligent species that has ever existed here capable of solving more problems than all of the others combined."

Unfortunately, humans have also caused more problems than all other species combined. We occupy what appears to be a rare jewel of a planet, the only one we are certain can support us. Instead of treasuring it, humanity is destroying it. In the fact of that, there is no reason to tout human intelligence.

@TheMiddleWay Humans have introduced toxins into the environment that have never been introduced before.
Microbeads have never existed before humans, therefore Earth's ocean life has not evolved to overcome it. [forbes.com]
Earth's oceans have also never had plastic pollution prior to humans.
[ecowatch.com]

But the question was not about whether life in general on Earth could survive this current mass extinction, but whether humans could. That's debatable. I ask the further question of whether humans deserve to survive. Given the damage that has been done and continues to be done just so oil companies can continue to reap profits because they regard their wealth as more important than the rest of the planet, because people continue to eat meat (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/meat-and-environment/), and so forth, I say humanity does not deserve to survive. If the human race disappeared right now, the rest of the animals on this planet would stand a greater chance.

@RRRRComposer Your question asked about the "human species" and there is no doubt that the human species will be around in 100 years. The numbers will be different whether higher or lower and day to day life will be different but as a species, we will still be around.

I understand that your question was simply leading to a deeper discussion but I think it only scratches the surface.

"Deserve" is not an objective term, it is entirely subjective without means to judge any opinion better or worse. What's more so, is that it's a human concept that nature considers irrelevant. A young antelope doesn't deserve to be eaten by a cheetah, but it happens without consideration.

As far as the rest of the animals (other than that baby antelope) it sounds like you're referring to each species and their chances and not each individual animal. Does it count that no matter what humans do the earth and our sun are both finite and any species stuck on this planet will die at some point? Consider a species such as the dinosaurs. If a sentient species had been able to take them (if only in genetic form) to another planet to be born again, would the dinosaurs be better or worse off facing natural extinction versus man-made? It's irrelevant to that species isn't it?

On top of all this, if "deserve" is only a concept that can be distinguished by a sentient species then without one isn't the entire question irrelevant? You could argue that maybe a different species could evolve sentience but would that species do any better than us? As natural evolution determines similar rules for each species based on its environment, is there a reason to think sentience isn't a part of those same rules? Isn't it possible that we're no better or worse than any other species who could evolve sentience?

With all of that and no means to judge the success or failure of humans as a sentient species versus another, are we, the planet, and each other species here with us better or worse off with you throwing in the towel on humans?

@mattersauce To build on your idiom of "throwing in the towel," the fight is not yet over. Imagine a trainer of a boxer performing poorly in a bout and observing, "If you continue like this, you will lose." Well, if humanity continues like this, it will lose, and it will take countless innocent victims in the form of other creatures-- entire species-- with it. I have no problem judging that as reprehensible. Judging a person according to his actions is fair game., and so is judging humanity.

@TheMiddleWay "I presume, you have no such intentions. Why is that?"That is a legitimate question. I see what humans do to animals, so I have decided to devote the rest of my life to helping save as many of them as I can. They do not deserve to suffer as they do.

@RRRRComposer Here's your quote:

"Given the damage that has been done and continues to be done just so oil companies can continue to reap profits because they regard their wealth as more important than the rest of the planet, because people continue to eat meat ([scientificamerican.com], and so forth, I say humanity does not deserve to survive. If the human race disappeared right now, the rest of the animals on this planet would stand a greater chance."

Your thoughts on our future are without evidence and your judgement is useless other than to argue online which seems your only purpose as you bounce back and forth. If you're going to say humanity doesn't deserve to survive and then turn around and say you haven't thrown in the towel then I can't discuss this with you any further because you can't maintain a stance. You should look into politics.

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None. Short sighted leadership, denial of science or shunning of intelligence is not new. 11th century Persia did it and hasn't recovered. The delta is our civilization has the tools to destroy the earth, for humans at least. To your point, we are smart enough to see RAG colors but are we tenacious enough to do something about these things. Capable yes, lazy yes too.

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It’s not as if everyone’s just gonna croak a the same time (unless of course the rapture actually happens today) even if a global catastrophe hit or all the ice caps melted. There’s still be land in places and of course Kevin Costner floating around drinking his own pee.
I think our species will be around much longer than the century. The Sedna survived on carrion huddling around trees before learning how to hunt.
We will figure it out. We have a very close likeness to a virus. Well find a way to sustain - however few are left - and evolve into something new.

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A couple of bits of evidence: the archeological record indicates that humanity has survived despite abrupt climate changes such as the Younger Dryas (only one “s” pls) freeze and others. And humanity nowadays exists and thrives in a wide variety of climates.

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