The human race will go extinct no matter what we do. All species go extinct.
A few years back a little book called All Tomorrows inexplicably went viral for some reason, mostly because people seemed to dig the body horror angle. If you want to read that book, the full text is actually online if you search for it. But there's a couple of really obvious and important themes which a lot of people straight up missed despite the fact it's remarkably unsubtle.
The first is that whatever descendants humanity leaves behind, they will not be like us. Our species, our culture, our way of life is doomed to obliteration in the vastness of time and space. Even without deliberate modification, humans will eventually just evolve into something else. That's how life works. The process that got us to this point is just going to continue. This form we exist in now is not special or favored in any way, and the universe doesn't care about the continuation of things that look like us.
The second point is that because of this, our motivation for what we do has to come from the present. The worst impulses of humanity tend to come from belief in some final state or higher goal that will retrospectively justify everything. The idea that any particular species or, worse yet, any particular "race" has some grand destiny that justifies suffering in the present is bullshit, because the destiny of every species is to eventually go extinct and be replaced by something else.
Work, create and innovate because it makes you happy, because it fills your tiny life and because it might lead to a better future for your children and people you care about, not because you think it will help your species to endure forever. It won't, but that's okay.
I don't agree with this. And maybe it's my conservative disposition. I don't care if human beings in the future don't look like us, I don't care if humans go on a mating spree with aliens and or robots. I want some part of the human species to remain in the future, as someone who believes humans ought to be a part of the future. I don't care if it's unlikely. I would rather work towards a better future with humans in it in some shape or form vs without.
I would prefer we be smart and successful enough to be in power in some shape or form, but only so that we can protect ourselves, and hopefully other biological races in the universe, and or multiverse. A lot of the problems we have is due to survival instincts anyway. Whether humans realize it or not, a lot of the reason we overinvested in capital is not for economic efficiency it's for the geopolitical realization that the existing power needs to be as dynamic as possible to be said power. Yes, current problems like climate change, and inequality are important, but we cannot overinvest in current problems either, if we do too much of that we could be lifted behind some other alien race that just overtakes us if some alien race hasn't already. That said I still want a good environment and climate change to be fought off, as well as universal healthcare in the form of single payer.
I am not going to go around killing alien babies, and or murdering AI children, which I mention for the purpose of this debate I am not a monster. But I would prefer if we human beings were a part of the future, and you may disagree, and as a worker who isn't in power, you would be wise to do so, and focus on your own life, and your specialization of what you do. But radical life extension is a thing. It's already proven many animals can live forever minus diseases that can kill them, but not age. You may live longer than the standard 70-90 years most people die from discounting things like poverty or war. I may do so too or I may not, and I won't see my tiny life affecting the future. But it’s not out of the realm of impossibility, and given how much we have invested in it, I think we will start to see returns on it pretty soon.
Here's the problem with the selfish current thing of Liberalism ideology. They care about happiness, and their own life, and the current thing. I don’t. It’s the same thing with conservatives who just want money. But why? Creating not-needed interstate taxes is money creation, and so is joining a cigarette company’s board. But those aren’t the things that will create a good future. I am pretty sure there are many people who would find the above things to be happiness too. If you spent your life just hoarding money, or living for the moment that’s fine, but if everybody did that we are screwed as species.
Most people don’t fight the coming change if there is enough force, money, and or usefulness out of it. It’s central to my theory on how to effect change you need to aggregate some form of power, and just push to get the change you want depending on the cost-benefit analysis. It’s part of the reason I don’t like the left, despite being forced to join them as conservatives don’t like people of color, young people, and change and I am/like all of them. I wouldn’t even join conservatives if they did include Asians in their coalition because racism and classism aren’t dynamic, and I generally like humans.
As for a line I won’t ever cross for humanity, biological life, Earth, etc. It depends. There are always exemptions to the rule. Every dollar you spend could have gone towards X, Y, and Z. And while human beings tend not to be violent directly look at all of the wars. What if in order to fight off an alien race that will defeat you, you must kill just one child of said alien race? Or else your species get bombed out of the third dimension altogether. While generally, and in 99% of cases I like to act morally I have my own cost-benefit analysis. I once talked to an engineer who argued we needed to get rid of nuclear weapons even if it kills the entire human race and could have been used to protect us. I don’t agree we should only get rid of it if something else better than it invalidates its existence in that case morally will get you killed. Whatever works, works.
And again, maybe I am wrong, maybe all alien races are peaceful across the known universe or multiverse. In which case I will adjust. Look at cluster munitions, the left loves to tie on hand behind its back as many of its members, but not all myself included are mentally ill, unpragmatic, and dangerously naive which before you people come at me with personal attacks I am ins some ways, but on humanity, I will act according to my cost-benefit analysis and have done it.
I am learning how loitering munitions work, AI works, which vehicle(s) to target in a military convoy first, etc. I also am an active part of my workplace community. Granted I am a poor neighbor so people don’t like me in my actual community near me. But I do have friends outside of it. As for dating, it depends if I live longer with a radical life extension or not. If I can live to age 700 no I am not dating right now so that I can prepare for the war against either AI, aliens, or just action needed against great possible humanity-based extinction events either caused by us or not. And all of his isn't a dig at you, I don't find much joy in personal attacks.
Edit: Spelling, and grammar.
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