Why Cosmology Might Kill Environmentalism | #43 Dr. Neil Manson
Neil Manson explains the hidden tension between environmental ethics and findings in cosmology over the last thirty years: if life exists throughout the universe, then we lose one main argument for caring what happens to life here on Earth.Check out Neil Manson's paper, "Anthropocentrism, Exo-Planets, and the Cosmic Perspective". To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating.Feel free to follow me on Instagram or Twitter.EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction00:00:45 Cosmological science today00:10:25 Anthropocentrism, defined00:15:16 Two kinds of anthropocentrism: biological and personal00:30:46 Consequentialism00:32:15 The cosmic perspective and non-anthropocentrism00:40:47 Objection: Some infinities are better than other infinities00:56:59 Why we should reject nonanthropocentrism01:01:48 Should we seek to preserve nature?01:18:25 Towards a stewardship model of environmentalism