Will the Human Race make it?

Question

I am curious if people are optimistic or pessimistic (sometimes called realists) about the chances of our species to survive the next thousand years. (Technology is advancing in leaps and bounds... Genetic engineering (not yet but may be soon), Cloning, Artificial Intelligence (Cyborg technology), Bigger better smarter weapon of mass destruction.The world governments are still based on the ideas and wisdom of the past (Socialism, Capitalism, Communism, Fascism) Human population is growing at uncontrollable rates (Geometrically) which also adds more to the human potential (flip side of the coin) The world is getting smaller (Space is limitless- Human colonization) and cultures are currently fighting for survival to retain their identities. Not to mention globalization, Global warming, current trend of crop failures, and the destruction of the planet’s environment. (I predict an increase of pollution due to globalization). Is the human race going to evolve or go with as the dinosaur?

Answer 1

I've got several comments & answers. First of all, pessimists and realists are NOT the same thing! Pessimists, by their nature, do not look at the world objectively, which is the first requirement to being a realist.

I will confess to being a bit of an optimist myself, but looking at things from a purely analytical (i.e. realist) standpoint, I would say the odds are quite good in our favor. It really takes a LOT to make an extremely intelligent species of 6 billion go extinct. Overpopulation won't do it, worst-case scenario with that is the human population simply dies back to sustainable numbers. Global warming sure as hell won't do it, even the worst-case scenarios don't come close to wiping us out. A global pandemic wouldn't do it either, humans are too diverse, and there are too many of us in remote pockets of the world for any disease to get us all. A _major_ asteroid strike in the next century or so (i.e. before we develop defenses) might do it, but the odds of such a strike even in the next millenium are quite slim. A full-scale nuclear exchange would be pretty bad, but odds are any nuclear war would only be between the countries directly involved, plus there are still over a billion humans in very remote areas.

Your question was whether the human race would make it, and I'm pretty sure it will. Human civilizations and nations are another matter though, and tend to be rather more fragile than our species as a whole. Many of the countries we're familiar with now may not exist in another 1,000 years, and none will exist in their current form. Civilizations may fall from a variety of causes, followed by a couple centuries of barbarism, but as long as the species continues civilization will eventually rise again.

BTW regarding population growth, most credible estimates put the human race as levelling out at around 9-10 billion. Pop. growth is NOT geometric or limitless. In fact, many advanced countries (Japan and about half of the European countries) are actually in a population _decline_. The US is growing slowly, almost completely due to immigration. Most of the growth in the world is in 3rd-world countries, and they too will level off and even decline once they too advance to our level in both commerce and education.

If anything, I think optimist is a closer synonym to realist than pessimist is!

Answer 2

Well I see both sides of that. I am human first and also proud of my culture and history second. If we're going to stop emphasizing the differences so much we should never go back to minorities feeling forced to pretend they're not who they are. We should look at the diversity in a positive way that makes the human race more interesting!

Answer 3

Once the Unniverse finishes that would seem to be that. But we have a few billion years to go if there's to be a big crunch but eternity if not. Anyway if you understand life you're doing a lot better than me. I think the human race will most probably mess up the Atmosphere so much that we will all suffocate to death. Trouble is when people say that global warming can be reversed if we do something about it now; none of the leaders listen. Sooner or later the line will be it's too late to do anything now; then they will try to do something. It's pointless saying anything to Politicians they seem to be permanently deaf when it comes to important matters.

Answer 4

Matthew 24:21,22 says that it will be the greatest tribulation the world has ever seen if fact if the days were not cut short no flesh would be alive. So that tells us the situation is critical and yet there will be survivlors.
Psalms 37:29 saysThe righteous themselves will possess the earth and they will reside forever upon it.
Jesus said the meek will inherit the earth.
So yes this is critical times, but some people will survive and live on.

Answer 5

We shall survive .. well - there can be some wars meanwhile ... but we will ...
You see - our world need union ... to start looking for other place to expand living ( there shall be not alot of space in earth in next thousand years )
well - if we do nto unite powers in thin direction - it's hard to say .. but wars shall "decide" the problem with population ... :/

Anyway - You all can start think about it - USA and all other countrys related to conflicts in last 10 years have been spending so much resources that we can make not 1 but 10 colonies to Moon ...

Answer 6

I try to be optimistic but unless the human race starts evolving
more on a social and political level,I think we may be as extinct
as dinosaurs in a thousand years. At the very least we have to
change our way of living so that we can co-exist with our own
environment instead of destroying it.

Answer 7

It depends on your definition of "making it." Will we last forever? No. Are we the dominant species on the planet? Yes. Is that making it? You decide. How much longer is our time? We all have a stake in deciding that one. Think globally, Act locally. And VOTE!

Answer 8

If we are going to make it we going to have to change pretty drastically and I think we can't do that. We'd need to limit the amount of births, control big business which would require getting rid of democracy and stop pointless wars.

Answer 9

1 in 20,000 chance that we'll be elimnated by an E.L.E., based on the geologic cycles of the earth.

Answer 10

Not if the human race keeps trying to use the word "it" as if "it" meant anything.