Biodiversity Quote by Thomas Berry
“We find ourselves ethically destitute just when, for the first time, we are faced with ultimacy, the irreversible closing down of the earth's functioning in its major life systems. Our ethical traditions know how to deal with suicide, homicide and even genocide, but these traditions collapse entirely when confronted with biocide, the killing of the life systems of the earth, and geocide, the devastation of the earth itself.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Work: Our Way Into the Future, 1995
Human ethics struggle when confronting planetary collapse, a crisis beyond traditional moral frameworks.
In simple terms: Ethics fail in planetary crises.
Key Takeaway
Develop new moral frameworks for ecological emergencies.
Themes
environment
ethics
crisis
Mood
urgent
thought‑provoking
Type
environmental
ethical
When to use this quote
- climate policy
- environmental activism
- global health
- urban planning
Key Concepts
biocide
geocide
planetary stewardship
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies integrate ecological ethics?
- What personal actions reflect planetary responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Existing institutions may resist radical ethical shifts.
![“During this period (of technological confinement / [and language]) the human mind has been placed in its narrowest confines it has experienced since consciousness emerged from its Paleolithic phase. Even the most primitive tribes have a larger vision of the universe, of our place and functioning…” quote by Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/64a/thomas-berry-7391_celestial_during-this-period-of-technological-conf_237540.jpg)
