Abstract theorizing and appealing to the intangible notion of “moral values” avails us nothing. Evolution has equipped us to survive on the margins on the African savannah and the primordial forests of Eurasia. Under those circumstances a few inter-tribal wars and the occasional stupidity-induced starvation didn’t really matter, either to homo sapiens or the Earth.

Today, thanks to the abilities of a minuscule fraction of our species, we have technologies beyond anything imaginable a scant 200 years ago. But we’re still stupid apes with hardwired behaviors that are now very much misaligned with present realities.

While it would be pleasant to conjure up scenarios in which we avoid exterminating ourselves, it’s difficult to conjure scenarios that are realistic and also enable such an outcome. When we understand the evolutionary reasons for our incapacity, the overwhelming probability is that soon we won’t be around to worry about the mess we’ve created.