Argument Quote by Stephen Jay Gould
“It is so hard for an evolutionary biologist to write about extinction caused by human stupidity. Let me then float an unconventional plea, the inverse of the usual argument. The extinction of Partula is unfair to Partula. That is the conventional argument, and I do not challenge its primacy. But we need a humanistic ecology as well, both for the practical reason that people will always touch people more than snails do or can, and for the moral reason that humans are legitimately the measure of all ethical questions for these are our issues, not nature's.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Structure of Evolutionary Theory” by Stephen Jay Gould, 2002
Human-centered ethics can justify protecting species, but we also need a broader ecological perspective.
In simple terms: Human values can guide conservation, yet ecology demands humility.
Key Takeaway
Balance human concern with ecological humility.
Themes
ethics
conservation
humanism
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- wildlife protection
- policy making
- education programs
Key Concepts
environmental philosophy
evolutionary biology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we integrate human and non‑human values?
- What policies reflect both ethics and ecology?
A Different Perspective
Human bias may overlook non‑human interests, limiting effectiveness.
![“Nuclear, ecological, chemical, economic — our arsenal of Death by Stupidity is impressive for a species as smart as Homo sapiens ["Strange New World," http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/boo... ].” quote by Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/799/jeanette-winterson-166_death_nuclear-ecological-chemical-economic-our_152294.jpg)
![“Humans have made a huge hole in nature in the last 10,000 years. [With de-extinction,] we have the ability now, and maybe the moral obligation, to repair some of the damage.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/67d/anonymous-1_ability_humans-have-made-a-huge-hole-in-nature-i_1701417.jpg)
