Comment by PaulDavisThe1st
3 days ago
I've read a lot of science fiction involving macroscale engineering on such levels, but I think even the most misanthropic science fiction writers have a hard time imagining a species that can start meaningfully affecting the atmospheric composition of their planet but are clueless about possible negative side effects.
Misplaced misanthropy. The largest and most destructive atmospheric composition change in the history of the planet, against which our slight modification of CO2 levels is just a blip, was performed by completely unconscious species with zero capability for reflection or prediction of the results. Compared to the Great Oxygenation Catastrophe, we've done nothing.
On a more amusing note, if you're interested in a counterexample to your direct claim, which involves another catastrophe that makes the worst predictions of climate change look like human paradise, I would recommend to you "The Nitrogen Fix" by Hal Clement. I won't spoil what the catastrophe is in case you might be interested in reading it, but Google will spoil it readily if you prefer.
But that species didn't call itself Homo Sapiens, and didn't flatter itself that it knew better.
If you're going to move the goalposts that far to stretch for your misanthropic points there's no point in conversation.
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