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> A little further out there, but if other intelligent life exists and they saw us as a virus, they might try to cure the planet by eradicating us. Which would

• bonestamp2 6y ago
  Yes, sorry. It would be awful. The implication was that we should turn things around before that could ever be the conclusion another lifeform might come to.
  • kzrdude 6y ago
    Seems like a damn hasty conclusion anyway. We have reason to judge the health of human civilization above other factors, but what grounds do they have with an outside perspective? What's right and wrong for this planet, or for us, from their alien perspective? Why would they sympathize with, say, the dolphins instead of us (they might - for random reasons?)
    • bonestamp2 6y ago
      > Why would they sympathize with, say, the dolphins instead of us (they might - for random reasons?) It wouldn't necessarily be random, it could just be math. If any being looked at any ecosystem objectively, and they see 1 species making that ecosystem worse for 8.7 million other species, then it might seem obvious to side with the 8.7 million other species. Is it ethical to eradicate 1 species to save 8.7 million others? Well, now we've got a classic trolley problem on our hands. They could keep on flying and do nothing, or they could intervene. Not everyone will agree on the ethical choice.
      • kzrdude 6y ago
        Objectively, why intervene? We are life that came from this planet, and this is unfortunately the "natural" course of life of this planet right now :) It's true, that they might be into "gardening" and want to shape the planet they pass by to their aesthetics and values, but it's hard to guess what they are, and it's not objective. I appreciate the discussion of this.