ETHICS

INTRODUCTION:
The question presented to us on this topic is mind-boggling, to say the least. However, it
stimulates an exciting literary process to explore the vistas of knowledge in search of an
answer. I have focused on all possible angles and strived to come up with ‘AN’ answer, not
‘THE’ answer. Everyone has a right to make an opinion and deserves to be valued based on the
weight of argument rather than whims. As I went through piles of related materials pertaining to
this question, they revealed peculiar disciplines; some supporting and others negating my
perspective. Logic remains the foundational stone on which I tried to build my case. As I went
through my notes, a quote from Carl Sagan came to mind:

“Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.”–Carl Sagan.

SURVIVAL VS EXTINCTION:
The phenomena of survival vis-à-vis extinction are not new to human existence. The concept of
immortality has always fascinated mankind. In this quest for immortality, many embodied
themselves as self-proclaimed gods but were eventually caught by the bitter reality of existence
i.e. mortality. After realizing that individually, we cannot achieve eternal life, we sought refuge in
collective immortality. But even that has a slim chance of working out. We forget that the recipe
for the eternity of human existence lies right on our very beloved planet, which we have
negligently devastated. The natural equilibrium that provides sustenance to life on earth has
been disturbed due to careless pursuits which ironically we sometimes attribute to the quest for
progress and fighting out extinction. Peeling off the core of this very ‘quest’ reveals somewhat
rather flimsy solutions:

CLIMATE CHANGE:
The biggest problem confronted by mankind these days is climate change. We have put in
many efforts to reverse this phenomenon but in vain. Reversing climate change is simply not
possible. Take plastic as an example. It does not decompose, which is why it cannot simply
disappear. Completely reversing climate change is impossible unless you have a time machine.
The damage accumulated by centuries of careless behaviour makes it next to impossible to
avoid the inevitable course we have triggered ourselves.
SPACE COLONIZATION:
Humanity has been looking at the stars for hundreds of thousands of years. Recently, we have
sought a haven in the vast darkness of space. Ideas to become ‘space nomads’ have sprung
up. Brilliant people like Elon Musk have supported and contributed millions of dollars to this
idea. In his words,

“I think we have a duty to maintain the light of consciousness, to make sure it continues into the
future.”–Elon Musk.

Thus, he expresses the idea that space colonization is a moral duty. It seems like a noble but
seemingly unlikely idea. We would need to do decades' worth of planning beforehand to ensure
that we do not destroy this second planet, like Earth. SpaceX has been focusing on the
colonization of Mars. But it needs to be kept in mind that Mars is freezing. It would first need to
be warmed closer to Earth’s temperature. The current temperature is -60 degrees Celsius, so it
would take approximately a hundred years. After that, breathable oxygen should be available,
which will take another ten thousand years. There is also the idea of terraforming. It seems like
a good idea (provided we ever make the technology), but why wouldn’t we just use it on Earth?
Some people also believe that we can work on our current problems while pursuing the idea of
space colonization. A common belief is that humanity will survive for, at the very least, another
one hundred million years. This should give us ample time to pursue space colonization. But we
should also consider the fact that space is very inhospitable. We have been living on this blue
dot for quite some time. Even if we acquire the technology, we would still prefer to live on Earth.
A simple proof of my statement is that we cannot even live in Antarctica, where the conditions
are far less difficult.

1.(Pro And Con: Space Colonization, n.d.)

NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT:
One of the biggest threats to our planet is nuclear war. This could destroy both the planet and
us. A solution could be complete nuclear disarmament, but that is highly unlikely. International
dynamics are more complex than the paradoxes of the universe. Such an agreement would be
vulnerable to breaches due to instinctive human biases founded on self-interest and little care
for collective wellbeing. If at all mankind surmounts their instinct, compliance is still another
major issue. There are no ways to ascertain that the countries in question will comply. An
example supporting my claim is the secretive acquisition of nuclear technologies by countries
such as North Korea and Iran despite being signatories to international treaties and conventions
on the matter. Every country acts in self-interest which at times is contradictory to the collective
interests of humanity. It is next to impossible to assess human intentions and thought
processes. Sadly, humanity is very good at lying.

INEVITABILITY:
This may sound glum, but extinction is inevitable. There are too many threats confronting
human existence. Still, many may not be convinced. Therefore, I will present a few such issues
which endanger the very existence of mankind.

EVOLUTION:

If we entertain the possibility that humanity will survive for a billion years, it is quite possible that
we will not be humans anymore. The phenomenon of evolution would have completely changed
us during this long period. Our physical characteristics would have completely changed. Maybe
our level of consciousness would have deteriorated as well. Who knows, we might just evolve
into simple-minded predators. Research confirms that we are getting dumber. The constant
increase in IQ points continued until 1975. We know this phenomenon as the ‘Flynn Effect’. But
after 1975, the number dropped steeply. This further decreases the chances of human survival.

2.McManus, M. R. (2023, March 8)

REPRODUCTION:

Studies have shown that many members of the male population have been getting more and
more impotent. The quality of human sperm has been falling drastically. Resultantly, this could
lead to under-population. For the last few years, the human population has been booming. The
graph has always been on the rise. However, research has proven that the graph will soon
reach a climax, after which it will fall quickly.

3.MacNamara, T. (2019, March 26)

EXISTENTIAL RISKS:
Many extraterrestrial threats may also end our dreams of achieving vita aeterna. According to
some studies, Earth is bound to get hit by deadly asteroids. These ‘space rocks’ may not be as
deadly as the ones that killed off the dinosaurs; however, they may cause local extinctions and
speed up the global warming crisis. Violent supernovas may also annihilate our ozone layer,
which would cause over-exposure to UV rays from the sun, destroying the bare Earth.

THE DARK FOREST THEORY:

Imagine you are a child lost in an eternally dark forest. Now, you may light a fire, but
consequently, you are at risk of attracting all nearby predators to your location. Which is why
you keep quiet and mind your own business. This is the ‘Dark Forest Theory’, which was first
introduced by the Chinese writer Cixin Liu in his book ‘The Dark Forest’. This theory is a
terrifying solution to the Fermi paradox, which asks why we haven’t been able to establish
contact with extraterrestrial life if the universe is supposed to be filled with them. Other
intelligent civilizations have kept quiet so as not to attract the nearby ‘predators’. If we create a
loud enough ruckus in the silence of space, then surely someone will hear us. In fear of getting
destroyed themselves, they will try to destroy us first. Thus, this is yet another threat to
humanity.

4. The Dark Forest By Cixin Liu. (n.d.).

FOCUSING ON DELAYING THE INEVITABLE:

On the bright side, we can still delay the inevitable. We can control the pollution crisis through
various innovative ideas such as reusing plastic in numerous ways. A company known as
Byfusion is currently working on one such idea, in which construction materials made out of
plastic, are used in the construction of buildings.

5.ByFusion Global Inc. - Reshape the Future of Plastic Waste. (2023, July 26)

Moreover, mini water purification systems like ‘The Drinkable Book’ are just one of many avant-
garde ideas which we can use.

6.ByFusion Global Inc. - Reshape the Future of Plastic Waste. (2023, July 26)
Hunger and malnutrition are also causes of concern. But, we can also change this. The secret is
hidden in small startup businesses like ‘Greencovery’, which are focused on ending world
hunger.

7. Greencovery - Recover compounds from food sidestreams. (2023, July 4)

Small in-house gardens may also be a good solution. They offer free organic food for people
who don’t have the space for traditional gardens. Other than that, construction of large-scale air
purifiers like the ‘Smog-free’ tower, which purifies 30,000 cubic meters of air per hour, is also
underway. Startups such as Opus 12 have also been working on ways to convert carbon
dioxide into fuel.

8.Smog Free Tower | Smog Free Project | Studio Roosegaarde. (2019, October 17)

CONCLUSION:
The future may seem bleak. Nevertheless, this is no time to get depressed. Everything has an
end. Many have tried to beat death but have failed. We do not know whether we will live another
day or fight another fight. But that is what makes life so beautiful. We should focus on the
problems of today and stop thinking about tomorrow. A quote from Anais Nin springs to mind:

"I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by losing." -Anais Nin

References
1. Pro and Con: Space Colonization. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-space-colonization

2. Research Confirms It: We Really Are Getting Dumber. HowStuffWorks.

https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/research-confirms-
it-really-are-getting-dumber.htm
3. Is Underpopulation a Problem? The Atlantic.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/03/underpopulation-problem/585568/
4. The Dark Forest By Cixin Liu. (n.d.). Goodreads. Retrieved October 17, 2023, from
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/23168817
5. ByFusion Global Inc. - Reshape the Future of Plastic Waste. (2023, July 26). ByFusion
Global Inc. https://www.byfusion.com/
6. Greencovery - Recover compounds from food sidestreams. (2023, July 4). Greencovery.
https://greencovery.com/
7. Smog Free Tower | Smog Free Project | Studio Roosegaarde. (2019, October 17).
https://www.studioroosegaarde.net/project/smog-free-tower