(NAS Colloquium) The Future of Evolution (2002) / Chapter Skim
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Intervening in Evolution: Ethics and Actions
Intervening in Evolution: Ethics and Actions
Pages 89-94
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From page 89... ...
Genes cannot incorporate enough instructions into the brain's structure to program an appropriate reaction to every conceivable behavioral situation, or even very large numbers of them. Here is an instance where a little bit of reductionist analysis suggests the hopelessness of seeking a genetic reductionist explanation of most of human behavior, including our ethical behavior related to the course of evolution (13~.
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From page 90... ...
16 and 17~. Scientific Response to Human Modification of Evolutionary Trajectories In this symposium, we are starting a dialogue over the ethical issues of human alteration of the future course of evolution, which can be viewed as an extension of the dialogue that already includes decision makers and the general public in discussions over human responsibility for abating the extinction crisis (18~.
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From page 91... ...
But the possible conse quences of this for humanity are much less obvious, so it is hard to present specific options except self-evident ones such as: "if society wishes to preserve opportunities for continued diversi fication of large animals in groups such as the big cats, horses, antelopes, and our closest primate relatives, more effort should be put into the conservation of large tracts of wilderness." More broadly and more importantly—environmental scientists to day can simply recommend that those whose values include a concern for the options of distant future generations take more care when meddling in a process billions of years old, which, when severely perturbed, could change the biosphere dramati cally for millions of years in unpredictable ways. We can and should do better.
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From page 92... ...
(1995) , Reinventing Nautre: Responses to Postmodern Destruction (Island Press, Washington, DC)
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From page 93... ...
Mike Rosenzweig, University of Arizona Speciation: Past, Present, and Future Nancy Knowlton, University of California, San Diego Reef Ecosystems of the Future Jeremy Jackson, University of California, San Diego Biodiversity Decline in the Marine Realm Fakhri Bazzaz, Harvard University Plant Biology of the Future Richard Cowling, University of Cape Town Rapid Plant Diversification: Planning for an Evolutionary Future Hal Mooney, Stanford University Alien Invasions and Mixing of Biotas David Tilman, University of Minnesota The Vacant Niches of Human-Dominated Ecosystems Paul Ehrlich, Stanford University Intervening in Evolution: Ethics and Actions
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From page 94... ...
Saturday, March 1S, 2000 Session Il! Discussion Leader, Peter Kareiva, University of Washington Panel I: Ecological Modeling of Current and Future Diversity Threats Discussion Leader, Russ Graham, Denver Museum of Natural History Panel II: Lessons from the Pleistocene Discussion Leader, David Woodruff, University of California, San Diego Panel III: Decline of Biomes and Biotas Discussion Leader, Michael Novacek, American Museum of Natural History Panel IV: Scenarios for Recovery Sunday, March 19, 2000 Session IV Panel Reports Session V Conclusions
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