> Given all the above, what makes you optimistic about the future? Why do you believe that the world of tomorrow will be better than the world of today? What do you look forward to in the world of the future?
Many species, and viruses too, have population-level boom-bust cycles. Maybe humans will self-destruct enough to wipe out a fair number of us and our impacts will dwindle for a few millennia. It'd be cool if other species took the reins for a bit.
What gives me hope is that we shouldn't be the end of evolution, just another step along the way. Maybe someday a better homo will replace us, or AI, or aliens, or just us, evolved more.
I don't think there's anything more we can do about homo sapiens in particular; we've reached our biological limits when it comes to ability to cooperate and think on a global scale. Either we improve the species at the biological level or we're just gonna keep having the same issues, amplified by new technologies but beholden to our primitive minds.
It's just an apocalypse -- or probably many small ones -- for one species. The other millions go on to some degree, I hope! I don't think humans deserve some special place in evolution that make us more important than all the other life and life-like beings out there.
But yeah, I don't think there's any saving our species anymore, I just hope enough of us perish soon so other beings can have a shot. Maybe we can go through a dinosaur-like mass extinction and transformation, where our version of "birds" millions of years later can still be very successful even without dominating.
Yeah, it's not a hugely popular philosophy with the pro-human crowd, lol.
But really, what do you expect of a species barely differentiated from chimps? Genocide and in-group obsession is in our blood; we are cursed by our genes. It would be cool if something like super-smart ants took over for a while. Or flying dolphins.
Yeah it would be cool to not exist, and it’s really cool to just give up on the future of our species, and to go around declaring this worldview at any opportunity, especially when some sucker specifically asks what makes you optimistic - that’s the coolest time to spring your teenage anti-humanism on them.
Touchy much? It does make me optimistic. There's a whole lot more to this planet than the humans. You don't have to agree, but sorry, that doesn't invalidate MY optimism. To each their own :)
More likely, one subset of humans (e.g. the ones who use birth control) will be replaced by another subset (e.g. the ones who don't use birth control, perhaps for religious reasons). Since evolution favors those who don't use birth control for obvious reasons.
The times when birth rate was our limiting factor are several centuries behind us. But good news, once our current population is decimated, we will also lack the means to produce viable birth control!
We're no longer limited to simple genetic reproduction, though... our units of cultural/technological/etc. output are also part of our legacies, whether as individuals or collectives. I think that's super cool, way more so than the old religious idea of "souls" and whatnot.
Many species, and viruses too, have population-level boom-bust cycles. Maybe humans will self-destruct enough to wipe out a fair number of us and our impacts will dwindle for a few millennia. It'd be cool if other species took the reins for a bit.
What gives me hope is that we shouldn't be the end of evolution, just another step along the way. Maybe someday a better homo will replace us, or AI, or aliens, or just us, evolved more.
I don't think there's anything more we can do about homo sapiens in particular; we've reached our biological limits when it comes to ability to cooperate and think on a global scale. Either we improve the species at the biological level or we're just gonna keep having the same issues, amplified by new technologies but beholden to our primitive minds.
So hopefully we'll get replaced soon!
Life, uh, finds a way :D