RE: terrestrial carbon

From: Spike (spike66@comcast.net)
Date: Sun Jul 27 2003 - 14:46:43 MDT

  • Next message: Robert J. Bradbury: "RE: Radical Suggestions"

    --- Spike <spike66@comcast.net> wrote:

    > Humans have rescued the life on this planet from
    > universal extinction...

    Oh yes, and there is another philosophical angle
    to this whole notion. There are those who argue
    that humankind should do everything possible to
    minimize its impact on the planet, i.e. reduce
    carbon dioxide emissions as much as possible, etc.

    If my humans-to-the-rescue notion is correct, then
    the gaians could be renamed the mercenary-medics.
    A mercenary medic would be a doctor who does not
    actually *cure* the patient, but deliberately takes
    steps to keep the patient alive and at the exact same
    level of health she had when she staggered into the
    emergency room. By this means, the doctor would
    extract a continuing revenue stream from the patient,
    thus maximizing his profit while technically still
    fulfilling the part of his oath which says "first
    do no harm."

    By minimizing fossil fuel use, the Gaians are suggesting
    carefully withholding medications and treatments to
    prevent a full recovery of life on earth, thus ensuring
    a continuing political revenue stream from a chronically
    ill planet. In this case, the "do no harm" clause is
    in question however.

    spike

    ps Surely I am not the first to think of this theory.
    Has anyone a citation, or know of a real biologist with
    these or similar views?



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