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