Will Our Species Survive Another 150,000 Years?

[Sunstone]

What are the problems or challenges that might prevent our species from surviving another 150,000 years?

What might help our species survive another 150,000 years?

Do you think our species has a good chance of surviving another 150,000 years? Why or why not?

 

[InformedIgnorance]

Firstly I would suggest that should our 'species' actually survive that long, then the organism that results from those millennium of breeding may no longer be what we would consider human (though I note the rate of human evolution in the last few millennium has been limited).

That said, I do not believe humans will last that long, we are far more likely to destroy this planet to such an extent that we can no longer live here - prior to coming across the technology restore this planet or to transport some segment of our population (it will not be the entire population, most of those at the time will be left here to die because it will be very expensive) to some other planet.

And that is if we do not wipe each-other out.

 

[idav]

We survived the ice age with limited technology so I think we could make it. Less population might help but not necessary. I think we are pretty adaptable.

 

[Reptillian]

We won't make it as a species for another 150,000 years. If we manage to avoid causing our own extinction, then our technology will allow us to control our own evolution and pick our own course. Also, the advent of civilization has changed the way our species lives significantly in the past few thousand years, and our population has increased dramatically, we're very likely to evolve significantly in the next 150,000 years. Man's modern form will go the way of the dodo. This century is going to be critical in determining the future of our genus (Homo...stop giggling!) and maybe even course of life on our planet.

 

[darkendless]

What are the problems or challenges that might prevent our species from surviving another 150,000 years?

What might help our species survive another 150,000 years?

Do you think our species has a good chance of surviving another 150,000 years? Why or why not?

No, definately not.

Major problems:
1) humans as a whole are arrogant and idiotic (to be kind),

2) unwillingness to adapt to changing climates (America and oil is one rather annoying one). Something I noticed right across Europe were alternate energy sources everywhere. Ameria and Australia seem to be the two major countries who refuse to change their ways to prepare for the future.

3) Complete disregard for the planet. Something Christianity has ingrained in our teachings is that we somehow have a divine right to do what we want to the planet. Given how much damage we've already done.... well you get the point.

4) Overpopulation. Our current population is unsustainable. I firmly believe that we are beyond our carrying capacity and our current level of logistics (which are similarly unsustainable) paper of the cracks in our abusive consumption lifestyle. In combination with peak oil and the lack of super-fields of oil, logistics may slowly grind towards a halt which could reveal the reality of our situation.

5) Urbanisation. Mega-cities the world over are huge abusers of energy and resources. As a result of populations migrating towards cities, rural production is slowing and thus straining supply vs. demand.

6) Politics. Zimbabwe is a prime example. War in what was once the bread basket of Africa has really hurt the agriculture of a once productive nation.

7) Natural disasters: With drought in Australia likely to return, earthquakes in Canterbury New Zealand (one of the biggest agriculture regions in the Southern hempisphere) and a whole lot of things I don't know about or haven't bothered to type you get the idea.

8) Inability to forecast ahead. Even in my rather inconsequential line of work I see the government making painfully short sighted decisions especially with regard to infrastructure, planning and disaster management. It really scares me to think how much money they waste building facilities to support a 15 year need rather than looking further ahead and spending a little more to save a lot more for the future.

Thats enough of a rant about how stupid humans are from me for now.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

What are the problems or challenges that might prevent our species from surviving another 150,000 years?

What might help our species survive another 150,000 years?

Do you think our species has a good chance of surviving another 150,000 years? Why or why not?

We will survive, or at least, a few of us will. Not sure they will be "human" though. Perhaps by then they will have (hopefully) evolved to better survive.

 

[InformedIgnorance]

They would be the ones who have enough $$$ to have access to the technology that allows them to do so though... what do we then call those who do not have access to that technology and therefore have not altered their genetics?

 

[darkendless]

They would be the ones who have enough $$$ to have access to the technology that allows them to do so though... what do we then call those who do not have access to that technology and therefore have not altered their genetics?

$$$ only gets you so far.

I think it will be the resourceful that survive. Those that can fend for themsevles. You can't buy your survival.

 

[Reptillian]

They would be the ones who have enough $$$ to have access to the technology that allows them to do so though... what do we then call those who do not have access to that technology and therefore have not altered their genetics?

Presumably in the distant future, technology might make everything plentiful to the point that money won't even exist. People who aren't genetically altered won't be able to compete with those who are and will likely get out bred. If the unaltered individuals isolate themselves and form their own communities, they'll diverge into a separate species. We may be talking morlochs and eloi here.

 

[Sgloom]

i think its possible. im sure there will be a few times where most of the people in world dies and the few that survive will repopulate again, whether it be a major disease or catastrophe. even with the hiv virus, a small percentage of the population is immune to it. the strong will survive. survival of the fittest. i imagine there will be a new diesease, perhaps a hybrid of an existing disease that wipes out 99% of the worlds population, then the number of people will be sustainable again.

 

[InformedIgnorance]

I am sorry, but it is rather Naive to assume that technology will allow a utopian society.

It is those people with $ that can buy the resouces and technology to enable them to survive, because people value $; so they will survive so long as they can convince others that $ have value and a technology that reduces that value or even outright supplants the need for $ is a technology that is a threat to people with $; so they will act to minimise that threat by controlling that technology, thereby limiting the negative outcomes for themselves - greater good be damned. At the same time, people with $ currently have access to (and continue to promote the develpment of new) technology that limits their dependence on other people, such as automated factories, unmanned drones etc which means that they can use their existing advantage to secure control of resources and new technologies.

Class warfare? Aint seen nothing yet.

 

[darkendless]

I am sorry, but it is rather Naive to assume that technology will allow a utopian society.

It is those people with $ that can buy the resouces and technology to enable them to survive, because people value $; so they will survive so long as they can convince people $ have value and a technology that reduces that value or even outright supplants the need for $ is a technology that is a threat to people with $; so they will act to minimise that threat by controlling that technology, thereby limiting the negative outcomes for themselves - greater good be damned.

If anything, technology is a short term solution to a long term problem. Generally speaking people with enough $ to buy 'technology' are too stupid or too arrogant to use it properly.

 

[Reptillian]

I am sorry, but it is rather Naive to assume that technology will allow a utopian society.

It is those people with $ that can buy the resouces and technology to enable them to survive, because people value $; so they will survive so long as they can convince people $ have value and a technology that reduces that value or even outright supplants the need for $ is a technology that is a threat to people with $; so they will act to minimise that threat by controlling that technology, thereby limiting the negative outcomes for themselves - greater good be damned.

Technology allows for a utopian future, but I doubt people will be able to overcome their basic animal instincts and work to bring about that better tomorrow. Still, it doesn't stop a small percentage of us from dreaming big and working toward it.

 

[InformedIgnorance]

I wish you were right - but I do not believe you are.

edit: lol that was written for darkendless but I suppose also applies to your post Reptilian

 

[Pegg]

What are the problems or challenges that might prevent our species from surviving another 150,000 years?

our way of life is detrimental to our mental and emotional health. Our environment is becoming polluted...if that issue is not addressed it is not going to be pretty. But apart from us, the animals are far worse off then we are because we are destroying their habitats

there are so many issues that threaten our survival i wouldnt be surprised if we only last another 100 years.

What might help our species survive another 150,000 years?

Do you think our species has a good chance of surviving another 150,000 years? Why or why not?

Absolutely, we'll survive much longer.

We will have to change the way we live, we will have to stop destroying forests, stop mass producing animals for food, stop poisoning our waterways, get rid of the capitalistic system and revert to a socialistic society where everyone has what they need, money will need to go in the bin and all people will have to work at fixing what we've ruined.
There will have to be a complete overhall of how societies live, work and think.

Of course this will only happen if a higher power intervenes. And that is exactly what will have to happen to save this planet and all the living things on it.

 

[darkendless]

I wish you were right - but I do not believe you are.

edit: lol that was written for darkendless but I suppose also applies to your post Reptilian

Its just my opinion that although they can afford technology, it may not be as big of an advantage as assumed. Technology makes life easier and thats the problem for me. Easier life = lack of decision making and then a lack of being able to make decisions when required.

For example at work we have lovely computer programmes. If I use the programmes I don't need to use a pen and paper and over time forget how to do things manually. So when the time comes that I need to do things manually..... i'm proper screwed. Does that make sense?

 

[Reptillian]

our way of life is detrimental to our mental and emotional health. Our environment is becoming polluted...if that issue is not addressed it is not going to be pretty. But apart from us, the animals are far worse off then we are because we are destroying their habitats

there are so many issues that threaten our survival i wouldnt be surprised if we only last another 100 years.



Absolutely, we'll survive much longer.

We will have to change the way we live, we will have to stop destroying forests, stop mass producing animals for food, stop poisoning our waterways, get rid of the capitalistic system and revert to a socialistic society where everyone has what they need, money will need to go in the bin and all people will have to work at fixing what we've ruined.
There will have to be a complete overhall of how societies live, work and think.

Of course this will only happen if a higher power intervenes. And that is exactly what will have to happen to save this planet and all the living things on it.

I agree that the next 100 years are extremely important. I'm not a big fan of most currently existing economy models, capitalism/socialism/communism. Perhaps a blend or something entirely different (like a kind of post-scarcity economics) might be useful. I think that the sooner we realize that God isn't going to swoop in and magically solve all our problems, the better off we'll be.

Its just my opinion that although they can afford technology, it may not be as big of an advantage as assumed. Technology makes life easier and thats the problem for me. Easier life = lack of decision making and then a lack of being able to make decisions when required.

For example at work we have lovely computer programmes. If I use the programmes I don't need to use a pen and paper and over time forget how to do things manually. So when the time comes that I need to do things manually..... i'm proper screwed. Does that make sense?

That is a valid concern. Supposing we do solve all our problems with technology and become reliant on it, then it's possible we will get dumber and weaker as a consequence. Perhaps having challenges and problems to solve are what make us human? We could probably solve that problem with technology too though.

 

[Skeptisch]

150000 years is a long time! http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/journey/

 

[darkendless]

150000 years is a long time! http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/journey/

........ espcially at our rate of stupidity.

 

[Skwim]

 150,000 Years Ago       Today    150,000 Years From Now