The Lone Witness

I am writing a post that entirely is unrelated to Scientology. It is a simple reflection on a different perspective on an event that brings to mind a possibility that can come through several means. Some within our control some not.

I have heard many opinions regarding the recent Paris Climate Summit and climate change in general. I have heard from people that feel our pollution of the world is rapidly approaching a level that will cause great hardship to future generations, perhaps even our complete extinction. Others feel climate change is natural and any notion of our significantly affecting global climate is entirely false.

I don't intend to debate this extensively, my main point isn't a claim intended to persuade anyone. It is being presented with the ideas on dangerous or even an extinction level threat, even the most dire "already past the point of no return" claims as a way to point out humanity's unique position in all the universe and all existence.

The claim could be considered relative to other futures for mankind. It could apply to nuclear war or biological weapons or even forces entirely outside our direct control. Perhaps natural climate change or a plague outside our creation could threaten us or even other events like volcanic eruptions or an impact with a comet or other celestial object could end our days. My more religious friends may find key events or choices by humans as triggering our possible destruction. I certainly can't prove them wrong. (And strictly speaking I don't actually KNOW if they are or aren't wrong)  If there is a God (or gods, spirits etc.) I certainly am not qualified to describe her (or them) or to say what she intends. But with some reflection and adjusting the following post can be seen as relevant to any of these ideas, I think.



If the prediction that we are effectively creating our own extinction through reckless pollution proves true then unlike most species we can play a unique role.

We may bear witness to our own extinction and be aware we have caused it by our own choices. It will be a melancholy moment in mankind's short flicker in eternity. We will be the only portion of the universe with awareness of our existence and mortality and it will come, never lead to deep understanding or enlightenment and we will vanish from this world, perhaps forever.

If that is our fate it will be more sad than evil, a tragedy of foolishness and shortsighted thinking more than one of  malice or hate. In a way that makes it even sadder, as we are sympathetic villains and not deserving of our damnation to extinction.

If this dark doom is our true future and none escape it we may have the unique opportunity to exist as a species, create our own destruction and fully understand it is final. Which begs the questions - should we fight this fate ? Ruthlessly ? Have we already gone too far to stop it  ?

If we become fully convinced we are past a point of no return then what are our responsibilities ? And could such a conclusion be a grave error ignoring the possibility of technologies that could be developed to save us ? Or unforseen events that could mitigate the harm we have caused to both the environment and the species fighting for survival ?

Extreme hopelessness and indifferent ignorance both seem like mind closing simple answers that stop thought.

It can feel impossibly huge and complex as a subject. This is grossly compounded by clashing ideologies that regulate not just what information on our effect on the environment is believed and pursued but also whether even looking at the issue is emotionally acceptable. Many people viciously attack anyone who dares to look at climate science. Or any science. Certainly in the United States.

It is worth more than a little consideration, no matter what conclusion you reach. But either way ultimately we may be witnesses to our rise and fall while surrounded by an unaware environment. It isn't that our existence won't matter to anyone or anything else it is that it may be that no one and nothing else even could care, certainly at our level of awareness, and so we may leave no witnesses to contemplate our meaning or merits.

In a way it seems quite sad. But I recall a quote from someone. I don't remember quite who. He said we are the lucky ones, the lucky people. We are lucky because we get to live. Of all the possible people that could live we actually get to. Now this certainly brings unpleasant experiences and limitations to us but also opportunities for joy, kindness and love which can be worthwhile.

To me our possible limited duration as a species makes our opportunity seem even more fortunate. Imagine this universe as having unimaginable immensity and billions and billions and billions of objects and creatures within it over eons. If in the tiniest flicker of time we get to be the only ones with our awareness, intelligence, emotions and experiences how lucky does that make us compared to the rest of existence ? Now I am not arrogant enough to think other intelligent life cannot exist in such a vast universe in both space and time. But if we never definitively confirm the existence of other intelligent life we have to accept our uniqueness to a certain degree, certainly at least our isolation.

So in this framework it seems our time is quite precious. And not just in a self flattering way. We genuinely don't have peers in many ways. We can form and express opinions on other observable phenomena. No one and nothing else seems to fill that role. To be clear  I am not so impressed with our aptitudes as to think they give us some true purpose or meaning on some cosmic scale, but think our unique situation bears reflection and consideration regarding the things we do know. Or think we know. But hey, what do I know ?