Eventual destruction of the Earth

In approximately 4.5 billion years the sun with swell to red giant state, engulfing the orbit of Venus. The earth will be turned to an atmoshpereless nickle and iron cinder. Aproximately 100 million years later the sun will swell to red super giant state, engulfing the orbit of Earth. The planet will then be utterly destroyed. It is likely, however, that some other event will wipe out life on earth years before any of that happens. So what's the point then? Why advocate for any kind of "preservation of the Earth" other than for momentary and selfish reasons?

who told you that?


the reason to care for the earth is because it is a living thing, like you and me, no better or worse. it does however deserve our love! it is also our home, and our only one at that.

Originally Posted by Professor Jumbo

It is likely, however, that some other event will wipe out life on earth years before any of that happens. So what's the point then? Why advocate for any kind of "preservation of the Earth" other than for momentary and selfish reasons?

Why don't you just kill yourself? C'mon, stop being so selfish.

Damn I better start building my underground bunker,sounds like we don't have long .lol

Hey, "preservation of the Earth for momentary and selfish reasons" - that's good enough for me! No point in arguing about something that is expected to happen 4.5 billion years form now. That's a long time off.

How about preservation of a stable living environment for the next hundred-thousand years or so... Or at least for the next seven generations or so... You know, long enough for us to get off this ball and out into the REAL uncharted territory. Once we have figured out a way to expand beyond this solar system the destruction of the Earth will be a moot point.

It’s survival of the species that I am concerned with. Let’s see how far we can get before we wipe ourselves out from sheer boredom, eh? But that means taking good care of the planet we have until we are strong enough to leave it and become the hermit crabs of the universe.

Life as we know it has come from a strand of reproducing RNA to the amazing variety of creatures on the planet today in around 3 Billion years. Did they ever ask what the point was? If we have another 4.5 Billion years to grow what new and amazing thing may come out of it.

I think it is shortsighted human defeatism that makes us think that just because something must end it must not be worth it. If you really look at life that idea seems really foolish. Just because your going to die you can find no reason to live? Just because the sun will set you have no reason to make a day of it?

Whatever is going down here on earth is a lot bigger than just a human's view of existence and for billions of years life has gone on without any idea that there would be a tomorrow. So... how about being at least as positive as a fly or an ant or a virus?

the way i look at it is, there is no ultimate purpose in living, so therefore no ultimate purpose in giving up. Like a fire, you can burn fast and bright or slow and dull, or slow and dull then fast and bright then slow and dull... shit... you think the fire cares about how much fuel is left? nah, just the action of burning it until it is gone!

much love

tangable worlds come and go like tangable anything else. its a big universe and worlds are always being born and lost. but hey four and half billion is a pretty good chunk of time. our species has only been arround yet for a couple of million. in four and a half billion we'll either all be long gone or know how to look for greener pastures or even possibly have evolved into total nontangability ourselves. today we have a green world to enjoy, why not let's just enjoy it while we have it and try not to screw it up (any worse then we may already have).

Originally Posted by themnax

tangable worlds come and go like tangable anything else. its a big universe and worlds are always being born and lost. but hey four and half billion is a pretty good chunk of time. our species has only been arround yet for a couple of million. in four and a half billion we'll either all be long gone or know how to look for greener pastures or even possibly have evolved into total nontangability ourselves. today we have a green world to enjoy, why not let's just enjoy it while we have it and try not to screw it up (any worse then we may already have).

lol yeah, by that time we will probably each be our own planets! communicating telepathically of course!

There's no point to anything, and that's the point.