| Garf
The scientific evidence for global warming is, in a sense, irrelevant to me. If the cooling/ heating of the Earth is a natural phenomenon it is outside my circle of influence as there is nothing I can do about it.
My post refers to the general agreement in the scientific community that we have responsibility to stewardship or indeed that good management of the environment has benefits. That refers to habitat destruction, protecting biodiversity and other areas where we can extert influence.
Incidentally what part of Wilson's book has become outdated or disproven in the last 4 years?
Regarding Leakey's book, I am not sure why discovery of more natural disasters in the Earth's history means we should invite a man made one? His conclusion agrees with you - evolution has been broadly fuelled by these disasters. He doesn't propose laissez-faire about environmental management as a solution though.
If you believe that three of the 20th century's greatest thinkers are wrong fair enough. That's what opinions are for right?
Your argument is that we shouldn't behave in manner to mitigate man-made environmental disaster because a natural disaster may occur anyway.
Sounds like when I was at school and the smokers said 'why not smoke? I could get hit by a bus tomorrow'.
My bubble isn't burst about self-awareness. When a dolphin is proved to discuss the purpose of it's life or the meaning of it's existence I will credit it with the same privileges and benefits that we enjoy. Social structure and benevolence definitely exist in other species, but none have the combination or complexity that can be exhibited by humans. There is a higher purpose that only humans can enjoy, it's just that many choose not to enjoy it. I mentioned Frankl earlier in the thread.
Science has 'proven' a lot but I am with Popper on this one - nothing is ever truly proven and there is a lot more that we can't explain. This thread wouldn't exist if it could.
I'll reserve my right of self-determination and disagree with your assertion that whatever you were taught on your course closes off my point about self-awareness.  |