Would the Earth be better off if humans never existed?

Um, no.

 

Trillions?

 

we're only a product of the earth's system. We would totally suck on mars.

 

Agree. I can't help wondering if this is some kind of advanced trolling. Some zen-like trolling state that is above my comprehension.

But, to take it as face value -- I don't care if it would be better off without humanity; it would have no meaning to me without humanity. The Earth itself might as well never exist. However, because there is humanity, the Earth does have meaning, and because it is meaningful, we should steward it better than we do.

 

HIGHTOP WHY DIDN'T YOU VOTE IN THE POLL YOU POSTED?

 

You could also say the opposite: Humans are the most caring, most giving, most creative and most intelligent creatures that they earth has ever seen.

 

I'll defer to George Carlin on this one.

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Did you have a bad childhood?

 

This question is essentially meaningless.

 

no. I am learning American history.

 

imo a more purposeful question: 'Would the Earth be better off if corporations never existed?'

 

If you really want to hate humans you should read about more than American history. Our history has actually been somewhat tame relative to some others. European history is a good place to start.

 

Looking at how we treat nature and animals the answer is pretty easy, don't see why the votes are 50/50. We're treating Earth like trash for 1000s of years.

 

lol, you think so?

If that's tame, ....my conclusion holds even more.

 

It would be pretty rough for Mother Earth if ant-like beings ruled the world. Ants are pretty ruthless.

Anyhow, humans are amazing at their ability to preserve and create life. And our high level consciousness and emotions have been able to create this highly interconnected society that we see today. It's pretty spectacular how quickly we have changed in the past century. We aren't perfect but humanity isn't as bad as you think.

 

Are you joking?!?!?

humanity gave us reality TV

need I say more?

 

The question is moot since there are no value judgements, like "better", without a human brain making it.

Better for whom? Better for what purpose? What does better mean? What is the time frame? because anything extrapolated far enough the answer is always infinity, or 0.

 

I suppose that depends on your theology.

 

Any condition ordained by an infallible God would be perfect by definition, so there would be no better or worse, for her.
It would still take a conscious outside observer to make value judgements. I assume Christians would say this world is not perfect because of Satan or is free will with pain death and misery the perfect world in the view of God?

(one reason god myths are...... contradictory)

I guess there are theologies with fallable gods, like Hindu maybe. I'll need more acid to get there.

 

As someone who works in Russian history...... uh, yeah. Now THAT is history you want to learn if you want to be pessimistic.