The question that will decide our destiny is not whether we shall expand into space. It is: shall we be one species or a million? A million species will not exhaust the ecological niches that are awaiting the arrival of intelligence.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The future depends on whether humanity remains one species or diversifies into many. Biodiversity of intelligence is seen as a way to fill ecological niches.
- In plain terms
- We face a choice to be one species or many, and many species could fill the world better.
- What can you take from it?
- Species diversity may be key to adapting to the future.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Should we stay one species?
- How does diversity help evolution?
Another view
The quote speculates on intelligence and species without concrete evidence.
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