Too Much Time on His Hands

I know nothing about Clemson. I think it is some southern college but in reading a NY Times article proposing that human extinction may be a good thing, I would not recommend the place to any of my grand kids. Really.

The author states:

One might ask here whether, given this view, it would also be a good thing for those of us who are currently here to end our lives in order to prevent further animal suffering. Although I do not have a final answer to this question, we should recognize that the case of future humans is very different from the case of currently existing humans. To demand of currently existing humans that they should end their lives would introduce significant suffering among those who have much to lose by dying. In contrast, preventing future humans from existing does not introduce such suffering, since those human beings will not exist and therefore not have lives to sacrifice. The two situations, then, are not analogous. It may well be, then, that the extinction of humanity would make the world better off and yet would be a tragedy. I don’t want to say this for sure, since the issue is quite complex. But it certainly seems a live possibility, and that by itself disturbs me.

Frankly, who asked him anyhow. My minor was philosophy as an undergraduate but at a Catholic School it was trying to understand Aquinas. Which is why I now am a follower of Ockham...not Aquinas.

Now as I struggle with the inner workings of various cancers, hopefully trying to make a small contribution, I from time to time return to Ockham, and his philosophy. He introduced the concept of individualism, that individuals count, that individuals have duties in a religious context and that individuals are citizens and not subjects. Not bad for the 14th century.

But along comes this Southern erstwhile philosopher who posits what he does above makes one ask have we entered the world of the absurd. 

Humans have intelligence, and that intelligence can, has, and most likely will always be used to sustain existence. Yes, along comes from time to time abject evil, not much we can do about it but recognize it and eliminate it. But doing away with the entire human race.

Humans are part of the ecosystem. A complex ecosystem, and one which has from time to time gone through shifts. But for the last 3,000 years out of 6 billion we have managed somewhat well. Other species have wiped out other species. Just look at insects, or how about influenza. We are in a continual war with our partners on this planet. But understanding that and then understanding how to accommodate is also essential.

Thus if carbon dioxide is a problem, we should not tax our way out of it, or have some Southern philosopher kill off all humanity, but find a solution. We have done so with many other issues over the centuries, why not this time as well! Let's not let Southern philosophers kill off humanity, please!