My father so appropriately put it that we are certainly the only animal that makes conscious choices that are bad for our survival as a species.
Interpretation
Humans often make decisions that are detrimental to their own well-being and survival despite having the capacity to choose otherwise.
Louise Leakey's quote highlights the paradox of human behavior, where, unlike any other species, humans have the unique ability to make conscious choices, but often these choices are detrimental to their own survival and that of the species. It underscores the complexity of human decision-making, illustrating that intelligence does not always lead to choices that benefit our existence, reflecting a deeper philosophical inquiry into the nature of humanity and our impact on the world.
In practice
This quote could be used in a discussion on environmental issues to illustrate how human choices impact the planet.
If you want to become a fossil, you actually need to die somewhere where your bones will be rapidly buried. You then hope that the earth moves in such a way as to bring the bones back up to the surface. And then you hope that one of us lot will walk around and find small pieces of you.
I think when you work on fossils, and you realize that a species is there, and it's abundant for quite a long period of time, and then at some point it's no longer there - and so, when you look at that bigger picture, yes, you realize that either you change and adapt, or, as a species, you go extinct.
The greatest human ideal is the great cause of bringing together the thoughts of Europe and Asia; the great soul of India will topple our world.
There are times when sorrow seems to me to be the only truth.
things which in my mind blossom will stumble beneath a clumsiest disguise appear capable of fragility and indecision
Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.
Man is supposed to be the maker of his destiny. It is only partly true. He can make his destiny, only in so far as he is allowed by the Great Power.
Society really seems to have developed an unquestioning obedience towards spooky types… Did we get to where we are today via a slippery slope that was entirely within our control to stop? Or was it a relatively instantaneous sea change that sneaked in undetected because of pervasive government secrecy?
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