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#203 – Peter Godfrey-Smith on interfering with wild nature, accepting death, and the origin of complex civilisation

80,000 Hours Podcast

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Ethics of Nature Intervention

This chapter explores the moral implications of intervening in wild ecosystems to alleviate animal suffering, particularly from diseases and predation. The conversation examines the complexities of life and death in nature, contrasting human preferences for death with the realities faced by wild animals. Through philosophical debates and personal reflections, the chapter highlights the intrinsic value of human existence while contemplating the balance between human impact and natural processes.

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