HACKER Q&A
📣 NerDProgrammer

Is the world a positive sum game for the earth, not just humans?


I have observed the distinction pretty clearly, several times, that the world is usally divided into two parts, humans and everything else (including other animals and nature). Even sustainability is defined in these terms: "In the 21st century, it (sustainability) refers generally to the capacity for the biosphere and human civilization to coexist." From wikipedias introduction to that article.^[1]

I also have read a little bit about zero-sum bias (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-sum_thinking), and also read about it being intuitive, but not rational, especially as pointed out by economists. An article is highlighed are here https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/5CyuxotJ5XkeXXbZK/one-reason-why-capitalism-is-much-maligned

I seem to understand, in very simplistic terms, that it's the ability to create and think, that what gives rises to win-win games. And in general, it's better to have a win-win attitude, than a win-lose or the worst, have a lose-lose attitude.

But my question here is, all these discussions are pertaining to humans. Humans have become beter off than they were 50 years ago. But, with respect to what I start the discussion, sustainability, is it that nature is becoming worse of overall, for the humans to become better off ? Or it's a positive sum game for whole of earth ?

I would be really greateful for the thoughts of the HN community on this idea.

[1]: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Sustainability

  👤 HenryKissinger Accepted Answer ✓
Nature heals itself over time: trees grow back, endangered species grow their numbers, etc. Even deposits of fossil fuels reconstitute themselves, albeit over millions of years.

So nature isn't exactly a fixed pile of resources that we draw from.

The earth isn't a closed system. Sunlight, which is for all intents and purposes infinite, is a vital resource for the world's food supply, plants, and everything that depends on them.

With 7+ billion humans on earth, if you knew nothing about the water cycle, you might think that the oceans would run out of water in a few centuries. But ocean levels are rising, not falling. Because much of the water we consume goes back to nature one way or another.

It's more complicated than zero-sum.

👤 uberman
Do you believe the Earth provides unlimited resources or do you believe there are finite resources?