Humans bringing upon their own destruction?

Question

Ok, so this is my theory, i believe that the more humans have modernized, the more they have just worsened or created more problems for themselves. Like for example, way back before any modernizing, humans didn't need glasses! if they couldn't see, then they wouldn't be able to hunt and spread and modernize, which after they did problems such as bad eyesight, cancer, and other diseases have come about. so as we continue to moderize and industrialize and create more "comforts" for ourselves, are we only just bringing our own downfall? what do you guys think?

Answer 1

I think you're partially correct. We're undoubtedly increasing our capability of self-destruction simply due to modern weaponry. However, your point about humans not needing glasses is fallacious. Glasses and other medical technologies were not invented prior to modern human civilizations--that doesn't mean they weren't needed. (Look at ancient Rome, for example. Many diseases that are now curable are described in the written records of the time.) In regard to human genetics, you are again correct. If you look at an analysis of the human genome over the course of history, what you'll see is an increase in the number of detrimental mutations that has been passed down through the generations, hence the increase in some types of disease and illness. Furthermore, with the rapid spread of humanity around the globe and the exponentially increasing population, the risks of a global health epidemic and an uncurable "superbug" are similarly increased. Ultimately, I think we will cause our own destruction, but due to our increasing ability to deal with such problems, it may be a very long while before the balance is tipped.

Answer 2

Humans didn't need glasses?  So they were invented on a whim, because someone was bored?  It's certainly true that, at some point, there were no glasses, but that doesn't mean they weren't needed by someone.  It just means that those with bad eyesight died, or relied on others to help them survive.  

I'd be very careful with what you're saying.  There seems to be a tendancy for people - especially us young, disillusioned people - to romanticize the past.  The farther back you go, especially when you start talking about "pre modern" eras (I assume you mean prehistoric, nomadic societies and such), the less we actually know about.  For thousands of years, people have died from things as simple as infections in the teeth.  

The fact that we have eyeglasses doesn't mean that we're somehow sicker than we were, it means we now know how to live better.  These "comforts" you're bringing up have, on average, doubled the life expectancy of everyone in the U.S. over the last 160 years, across the board.  Cancer has only been recently treatable.  Diseases that were once death sentences are now petty annoyances.  We have clean water.  

Is life perfect?  No, but if you take a look at history, we're much healthier now than we ever have been ("we", in this case, meaning industrialized nations).  There's a lot to be afraid of out there, and we may in fact obliterate ourselves in short time, but it's not inevitable, and it's not because of some steady downward trend.

Answer 3

How do you judge that humans are bringing their own destruction when  humans are living longer than they ever have before?

Answer 4

I do not agree totaly with you statement but I do in another term.

People not needing glasses? Well someone invented them didn't they? You have to remember, it was survival of the fittest then. For all we know they could of sacrificed/slaughtered people if they couldn't see well. Most people can cope with it if they have to. And I am sure thats what they did.

For cancer and other diseises erm false. Even about 500 years ago. People were married by age 10 and had kids by age 13. People died at a young age throughout history at 20-40 or younger. People usualy died from a simple toothache, cancer, a cold, a virus, a deadly disiease, even if they cut their finger off they would most likely bleed to death. And if you didn't die that way you died at birth before birth, or at war. Most people reasoning having so many kids was people died quickly. Starvation was one even. So many things killed people quickly you don't even relize it.

But then, that far back people took pride in what they were giving, not like today. People, even if you were poor. Cleaned the house and kept it neat, today they throw things around like dirt.

So your thinking great but you gotta remember the what you say, and the facts that people know about history and the disease/eyesite. As for our own downfall, one day we will most likely. But not for a long long long time.

Answer 5

It just depends on your point of view.  Modernity brought about better medical care that greatly reduced infant and maternal mortality (I think in some rural areas of Africa maternal mortality is still something like 40%) but by the same token it has contributed at least in part to increased fertility rates which puts a strain on a lot of the world.

Answer 6

thats true..the bible itself has an explanation for this...man dominate itself to his own injury...

Answer 7

I think that its partially correct because although they are destructing the planet, they are finding new ways to solve it, for example:Global Warming. This is why a coin always has 2 sides

XD