Is Earth better off with or without humans?

[Gelfin]

Remind me, "better" is based on whose judgment? And if all the humans are gone, whose ethical priorities have been satisfied? To ask a loaded question, is species-suicidalism exactly as pathological as the individual variety, or is it far, far more so?

If we are making ourselves miserable as a species then that is our problem, not the Earth's.

 

[lewis82]

The earth doesn't care.

The earth doesn't have a consciousness. The animals may be better without humans. The forests, the oceans would be better without humans.


But the earth "doesn't give a damn". It's an accident if there is life on earth.

 

[iBlue]

Earth naturally has ways of balancing things out. Define "better off" and for whom. I think Earth itself will be just fine but the quality of our human lives on earth may suffer if we don't learn how to be less prolific, greedy and consumptive. I think for how innovative humans are we can be mighty self-destructive and short-sighted.

 

[0098386]

Earth doesn't care. Humans or no humans, she'll adapt and heal and overcome whatever we throw at her...

This whole "Save the planet" movement isn't about Earth, it's about us...it's actually kind of a selfish concept, and that's coming from a liberal. Earth will survive anything next to the sun going nova...

Absolutely agree.
The earth is just a spherical, layered rock in space. It'll likely always be that until it's grim end, with or without human populace.

 

[Don't panic]

"Earth" doesn't give a beep.
it was fine before, it will be fine after we are through with it.

as far as various members of the current ecosystems, than the 'wild' ones would probably do better without. the 'domesticated' ones (corn, cows, tulips, coackroaches) would probably see their role on earth seriously downsized when we are gone.

even if an asteroid comes and we are not here to 'divert it', earth will do fine eventually, just like before (although we might not be around to enjoy the beaches).

the 'save the earth' movement should really be called 'save the earth as we know it, so that our grandchildren can enjoy the great stuff too'.
and it is worth saving.

 

[leekohler]

Agreed with above. Earth doesn't give a crap. If we become too much of an annoyance, we'll be gotten rid of and the Earth will go on.

 

[obeygiant]

I love the Earth AND Humans. What do?