Extinction

[posie]

.Should the human race be actively trying to prevent the extinction of some species? Isn't extinction of some species part of natural evolution?

Posie..

[SpikyPhasmid]

Most species that have ever existed are extinct. However, evolution isn't a moral guideline. Evolution is the result of natural selection, which acts to favour only survival and reproduction - not quality of life, etc. Very nasty and painful diseases are also part of natural evolution.

[posie]

Originally Posted by SpikyPhasmid

Most species that have ever existed are extinct. However, evolution isn't a moral guideline. Evolution is the result of natural selection, which acts to favour only survival and reproduction - not quality of life, etc. Very nasty and painful diseases are also part of natural evolution.

But that doesn't answer my first question, or does it?

[SpikyPhasmid]

It makes the question seem kind of a non-sequitur, in that evolution doesn't tell you what you "should" or "shouldn't" do. Disease is part of natural evolution. Should we look for cures, or treat people who are diseased? Death in pregnancy is part of natural evolution. Should we bother with ceasarian sections?

[posie]

I was meaning what we do for 'threatened species' because they are threatened, and I should have specified 'wildlife' species.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by posie

.Should the human race be actively trying to prevent the extinction of some species? Isn't extinction of some species part of natural evolution?

Posie..

I think you have answered your own question. ie extinction should be a 'natural' process of evolution. Many species managed to prevent their extinction are threatened due to Man's direct (illegal pet trade) or indirect (rainforest clearance for mining) activities and therefore not natural per se.

Cheers,

Adam

[thunder]

Originally Posted by SpikyPhasmid

I
in that evolution doesn't tell you what you "should" or "shouldn't" do.

Quite right. How can anyone suggest that people 'shoudn't' try to save species from extinction? Nor ought it to be said that everyone 'should'. It is a question of choice, surely.

henrya

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by posie

Isn't extinction of some species part of natural evolution?

Yes, including our species!

Jim

[Brocakat]

I don't foresee Humans becoming extinct. Not for a few centuries anyway. And that will only becuase of overcrowding & its inevitable shortages of food & clean water.

[STYRBJORN]

I'll have to do some checking up here, but so far there have been 5 major extinction events in the Phanerozoic era - since life first appeared on earth. These are the Post-Cambrian, Late Ordovician, Late Devonian, Permian, and Late Cretacious. The Late Triassic and Late Jurassic (when the dinosaurs were wiped out) were minor events. Available evidence suggests that thay were all caused by major asteroidal or cometary impacts. We are now in the middle of the 6th extinction and the cause is us. Full stop. In the 100,000 years since H. sap left Africa we have devastated biodiversity world wide. The Permian event resulted in the extinction of 95% of marine species and 85% of land dwelling species. We are well set to make those figures look picayune.

Trying to save any given species is an exercise in futility.

I have a lot more to say on this but I'll do some reading first.

Ric