The Calculus

 

It may be interesting to view Jeremy Bentham’s ideas.  Having created the maxim, that we should seek ‘the greatest happiness for the greatness number,’ he found it necessary to define what he meant by happiness.  I mean to use some of these ideas to create a calculus as to the value of each species, according to our defined view of the planet.

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Then he took the features of happiness - how intense was it, how long did it last etc, and rated the happiness, according to the value of it.

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It is my intention to give a value to the ‘usefulness of the contribution’ made by each organism, to the planet.  It will be judged on the extent of the benefit they bring, and how long it lasts.  If the contribution made actually brings more harm than good to other organisms, it must be given a negative value.

 

This cannot be a scientific examination.  The intention is merely to show that different organisms at different times in Earth’s history have contributed different values, and more importantly, we should rethink our ideas of what is important on our planet.  The ‘values’ produced, I believe, will show that we as humans are wrong in our estimation of importance.  That we, intelligent as we are, may in fact be less important than we think.  That creatures we may dismiss as having little or no brain, may in fact be far more significant.  That it is an ‘Upside Down World.’

 

I will endeavour to put some sort of value on each of the sections of life that we have considered in this paper.  I must repeat that it is not a scientific valuation, rather more of an estimate.  Hopefully it will serve to prove the point I have been trying to make.

 

I will use a measure of -10 to +10

 

Cyanobacteria

 

It was cyanobacteria that gave our Planet oxygen, without which no other life could survive.  Surely this must be the greatest contribution to our Planet - ever.  There were some downsides, for initially it caused an Ice Age, which killed some, so it cannot be given a rating of 10, but amazingly close.

 

Rating: +9.5

 

Fungi

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Fungi have their ill effects, causing disease among mammals in particular.  However, their amazing contribution to our planet, both historically and in the present easily outweighs these ill effects.

 

Rating:   +9.0

 

Vegetation

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Vegetation on our planet is so universal that we almost disregard it.  Without it almost no land organism can exist. 

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Almost every land based organism on the planet is dependent on it.  Meat eaters eat animals that have fed on plants.  It could be said we are all vegetarians.

 

Rating: + 9.5

 

Earthworms

Earthworms do a magnificent job of decomposing dead matter, and producing important nutrients.  They are also a nutritious food for many birds.

 

Rating: +8.0

 

Insects

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Insects are a major destroyer of crops, and can cause disease, especially in humans.  But they are play a vital part in pollination, seed dispersal, decomposing, and even plastic removal

 

Rating: +5

 

Birds

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Birds are much loved by humans, and certainly play their part in seed dispersal, for example, and in some cases pollination. Their guano is nutritious for some smaller mammals..Some smaller birds are food for larger ones.  Compared with the categories so far reviewed, however, they do not contribute much.

 

Rating: +3

 

Mammals

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The mammals that live close to humans, such as rats and mice, can be regarded as an irritant.  However, they do provide a food source for larger mammals.  Larger mammals much admired for their beauty, actually provide little according to the View of the Planet.  Some have been domesticated by humans, and provide usefulness to this single part of life.

 

Rating; +2

 

Humans.

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According to the View of the Planet, humans do not score well.  Their great numbers and superior intelligence have benefitted their own species, but almost no other.  Indeed, they will have to rely on so called ‘inferior’ species to put right the damage they have caused.  They have destroyed the habit of other life, left the world strewn with plastic, brought on too rapid climate change.

 

To their credit they have benefitted the lives of some creatures that they have domesticated.

 

Rating : - 5

 

Water Based Life

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Its contribution to the oxygen on the planet is highly significant.  It is an ecosystem in itself, not to be treated lightly.  Again, those at the ‘lower levels’ of the system prove their worth.

 

Rating + 9

 

Conclusion

We have come a long way from that young marine biologist declaring that without humans the planet would ‘jump for joy.’ 

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We can perhaps see that he had a point.  Every form of life makes a positive contribute except humans.  Mooreover it is what we regard as the 'lower levels of life that contribute the most.

 

It is an Upside Down World.

 

Beth Rudkin

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Home - click here

The Planet's Point of View - click here

The Beginnings of Life on Earth - click here

The First Big Advance - Cyanobacteria, click here

Fabulous Fungi - click here

Vegetation - click here

Insects - click here

Earthworms annd Birds - click here

Mammals - including humans, click here

Water based life - click here

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