We humans are excessively stupid animals hardwired by evolution to adhere to the norms of whatever group we find ourselves in, and believe without question whatever we're told by purported authority figures. Consequently, the possibility of independent rational action guided by enlightened self-interest is effectively zero in any society larger than a single person - and even then, the odds are vanishingly small.

We will exterminate ourselves as a species, eventually, because the few clever people who invent new technologies ultimately are delivering the power of vast destruction into the hands of imbeciles and morons. It has always been thus, and will continue to be so until homo sapiens is no more, and the planet can begin to recover from our brief but highly toxic reign.