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The Morality Scale
A simple thought experiment reveals interesting principles about what we value in nature, life, and the universe itself.
Authored by Richard Sylvan and first published in 1973, the last man argument was originally coined to criticize our anthropocentric relationship with nature. However, with a few extensions and twists, it has the ability to reveal deeper insights about the nature and value of life, consciousness, and the universe itself.
The Original Argument
Suppose that, in a not so distant future, society falls down a tragic and cataclysmic path that leads to the extinction of humanity. All humans perished to an unprecedented apocalyptic event, except one — you. Somehow, you survived the end of times and remain as the last human alive. You are healthy, strong, and aware of the tragic events that ended society. Yet, despite your best efforts, you are simply incapable of bringing humanity back. All hope is lost, you are the last human that will ever exist.
Now, let’s imagine that you have access to the entire nuclear arsenal of the world. Every nuclear warhead ever produced by humanity is at your disposal and, with the simple turn of a switch, you have the ability to destroy all the remaining life on earth — animals, plants, microbes, and any sort of biodiversity that remains on earth (you included) can be wiped out in a second.
Since there are no people left to use or even appreciate the environment, then, under a purely anthropocentric view of nature (a view in which nature only has value because it has value for us), Grey claims that there is no ethical ground to argue against the destruction of life on earth. In other words, he says that if you decide to flip the switch and end everything, your actions could not be considered ethically wrong.
The Punchline:
Sounds wrong, doesn’t it?
He relies precisely on that intuitive aversion to said scenario to argue that the anthropocentric approach to nature is wrong, or at least incomplete. He concludes that Nature has value on its own (intrinsic value), and not because it serves a purpose for us.
