[color:"orange"] I would be surprised if an intelligent person, who doesn't personally gain from exploits, could still feel that way in this day and age. [/color]
Well, I would not - and that's why I threw it in the discussion. The underlying attitude is present in a lot more minds than I'd be comfortable with.
[color:"orange"] That humans (ab)use techology and exploit (in a destructive way) earth and nature has nothing to do with evolution. [/color]
That I'd argue - abuse and destructive exploitation can be seen as part of the normal evolutionary process; it will be successful or not, and therefore prevail or not.
The point, for me, rather is that Man not only has the capability to recognize the consequences, but even to make a realistic prognisis for the future. And then we hit Humanity's characteristic trait - its very specific feature, and its curse - individualism.
Mankind, as a whole, is not an entity, but an agglomeration of individuals. The diversity is its strength - but when it comes to 'what is best for Man and future generations?', the discussion boils down to 'what do I lose (or gain) in that process?'.
Of course the dinosaur example as such is nonsense. In the 250 million years of 'dinosaur reign' an enormous evolutionary change developped, and a lot of races became extinct in that process, respectively changed totally by adaption.
[color:"orange"] Humans are a freak, a fault, in evolution. Humans stand outside evolution. They probably don't even belong on this planet. [/color]
A freak? Maybe - A fault? Yet to be proven - Outside evolution? No
Mankind is the only race (so far) with the potential to leave the planet. Now that in itself could be argued as an evolutionary process. Does the planet in its consciousness of its long, though definitely limited, lifespan create the seed for 'reproduction'? (OK, that's stretching it, I concede, but a tempting thought).
That triggers another thought - in Star Trek they have this 'main directive' (I am not an expert on Star Trek), roughly stating that 'You shall not interfere in the development of cultures or societies of other planets'.
If and when Mankind travels into space, that should be expanded into '...nor the ecological balance and evolutionary process of another planet'.
