by Mentalgongfu » Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:45 am
My answer, put together quickly:<br><br><br><!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>First off, I think the answer depends on what level of “sustainment” is deemed satisfactory. Even in the most dire circumstances it seems likely to me some members of the human race will be able to sustain themselves for a period of 100 years, but if the Earth faces some catastrophic event like a worldwide nuclear crisis or a massive meteor strike, the level of survival (politically, socially, environmentally, culturally, technologically, etc.) would not be comparable to today. Still, the human race would be sustained.<br><br>If, however, you mean to “sustain” a planet with a similar human population and level of cultural and technological development, it will require a significant shift in the popular modes of thought and action.<br><br>Political, social and environmental chaos has been with the human race throughout recorded history. To conquer human failings in one of these areas, environmental, for example will not rid the danger of something like mass genocide or nuclear war, which would arise through political and social avenues. Solving social problems will not necessarily solve environmental problems, and so on. The categories are related, but not necessarily dependent.<br><br>To sustain the human race will require significant changes in how we view politics, social relations and our environment. It will require changes in each of the categories mentioned in the question, and any other essentials which may fall elsewhere. It will require a massive shift from a mode of thinking and way of life (current) which tends to value selfishness and greed, which rewards and feeds the ego, which relies on ignorance to propagate power and operates on a principal of infinite growth (an unsustainable way of life) – into a mode of thought and way of life which is sustainable. Such a life would recognize a balance of individual human needs and desires with collective needs and desires, as well as with the physical environment. Common sense observations, such as the necessity of clean water to our long-term survival, would be tied with affirmative steps to protect water resources and would not be sacrificed for the short-term economic gain of the few over the many. Politicians who lie and leaders who mislead would be no more tolerated by voters than lying children are tolerated by their parents. Empathy, sympathy, reason and perspective would become more common than fear of difference, hatred, emotional reactionaries or single-mindedness.<br><br>As a practical matter, this shift in thought could result in human colonies on other planets or some other form of space colonization. It could result in a new world government and code of laws. An answer could lie in bio-mechanization or nanotechnology. An ‘advanced’ human race could express itself in a myriad of ways, probably more suitable to Mr. Hawking’s imagination than my own. Possibilities are endless, but I do not believe the more pleasant of these possibilities achievable without a major change in thought. It’s not enough to have the ability to do better, to progress or improve – there must be a will to do so.<br><br>In whatever way it would be expressed, sustaining the human race will require a monumental psychological shift which will allow us to put an end to (or in the least, to dramatically lessen) our tendencies which encourage political and social chaos, and to the extent possible, environmental chaos. (I however, have my doubts about the advisability of attempting to control environmental forces such as hurricanes and droughts. It is likely to create as many problems as it will “solve.”)<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--> <p></p><i></i>
