Would the world be able to live without human beings?

Question

Take out a species of any other animal, and the food web would crash and many other animals will ultimately die. But isn't it kinda depressing that if somehow humans were wiped out, the world would carry on and perhaps be a better place. Why do we believe that humans are the most important species? (please don't use the excuse that we were born in gods image)

Answer 1

The world is a large ecosystem. We are just a part of that ecosystem. Human beings had to evolve into being who we are today. While animals did it as well they have not done it without disrupting the environment solely for its own benefit and comfort level for existance. If you take us off 'the board' the world would look a lot different than it does today. We are here as caretakers or stewards if you will. If we do good job at this, we can stay here indefinitely and the rest of the ecosystem will be able to thrive as well. We are not the most important species but we are an invaluable asset to the entire world's future success. The flip side to this is if we fail to get things under control, we will be the biggest cause or liability to the world's demise.

Answer 2

Interesting question.

We always think of us as the center of the universe, but in reality we are simply newbies on the Earth. Most species on this planet are way older than we are, and our disappereance off the face of the Earth wouldn't disturb the nature a tiny bit.

So we should come to our senses and try to preserve the fragile balance on which we are so dependent to survive, or nature will simply shift the balance and we would be destroyed just like the countless other species in the history of the planet..

Answer 3

I don't know the exact statistic, but at least several species lapse into extinction every day. Take one animal out, the food chain will adjust, not crash.

Take out humans, and the earth will be able to revive herself and probably be a lot healthier planet without us.

Answer 4

Something I've often wondered. We're top of the food chain so . . . I guess that there'd be a lot more animals (all the cattle etc we eat) but I think nature would take care of that fairly quickly.

It's sad isn't it. We may be the most evolved creature but ultimately we're the most destructive . . .

Answer 5

Ohhs! so you believe that you came by yourself? If humans will wiped out as you said Food web will be affected greatly,plus nobody will manage ... There will be no food chain, food web .. If humans will not exists things here on earth is useless nobody will take good care nor destroy it...

Answer 6

The simplest answer is that humans are on top of the predator/prey pyramid. Removing the top layer would not significantly influence the rest after a re-adjustment by natural selection.

What's a god?

Answer 7

Because we're the ones doing the philosophizing. If we were cats, we'd think cats were the most important.
A truly objective view point can only be obtained by another species, who, at this point at least, are not talking.

Answer 8

Human beings are parasitic in nature.
S'truth.

As we turn to cremation, we don't even become fertilisers for the earth in death. Which means -> we take while we live and give nothing back.

Nothing justifies our presence as being valid or important.

Answer 9

Humans have been compared to a virus which destroys its host. Considering the damage we've done to the earth, its ecosystem, I think the comparison is valid.

Answer 10

world would be able to live without anything, bcoz it could be anyway a planet in the solar system. but we the humans cant live without world.