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Debate Score:17
Arguments:16
Total Votes:19
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 Would you class the human race as a parasite? (16)

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Hu008(24) pic



Would you class the human race as a parasite?

The definition of parasite being: 

par·a·site/ˈparəˌsīt/

 
Noun:
  1. An organism that lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense.
  2. derogatory. A person who habitually relies on or exploits others and gives nothing in return.
So therefore the human race having come to planet earth (it's host) and we are using up its resources, we should be right? However it is parasite nature to Lifdo this, but is it human nature? 
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1 point

Quite simple: the earth isn't an organism, it is an ecosystem, and ecosystems are meant for such a purpose.

Side: No
Arcane(64) Disputed
1 point

I disagree. An ecosystem is a place of balance, where all organisms living inside it do their part to keep the harmony ( for example worms eat fungi, predatorial insects eat worm, mice eat insect, owl eats mice, owl dies, fungi eats dead owl, etc.) Humans use up the resources the Earth has to offer, and in many cases we don't give back. We are at the top of the food chain, so we feel as if we don't have to give back.

Side: yes
Liber(1730) Disputed
1 point

But that doesn't make us parasites. παράσιτος is the Greek word from whence came the English word "parasite"; its meaning: one who eats at the table of another. We don't eat from the table of the earth, for the earth is the table.

Side: No
zombee(1026) Disputed
1 point

You phrase this as though the rest of nature lives in harmony on purpose with each organism pitching in to keep things going, while humans have somehow drifted away from this teamwork. I think that's a misrepresentation.

All organisms consume resources to the best of their ability. They don't fret for a second about the cost to the earth, the environment, or the other species with which they share their space. When they return resources, it's unintentional.

Humans are no more a parasite than any other species that lives here. Even less so, arguably, since at least some of us make a concerted effort to purposefully restore and maintain the planet.

Side: yes
1 point

If you look at it through the lense of a scientist then yes, however religion is there to stop us abusing the world. For example, the Bible contains many rules of stewardship and how to care for the land.

Side: Not according to religion
Apollo(1608) Disputed
1 point

If you look at it through the lense of a scientist then yes

No, from a biological perspective, we are not parasites. We are hosts. What organisms do we have a parasitic relationship with where we are the parasites?

religion is there to stop us abusing the world. For example, the Bible contains many rules of stewardship and how to care for the land.

You can't be serious...

Side: Not according to religion
Hu008(24) Disputed
1 point

Going onto the bible is a different argument altogether.

Yes, the bible may dictate how to be a good citizen and so on, but if you look how much damage we have done to the world, it hasn't really helped many to care for the land we live on, has it?

Also not everybody is a Christian and I am sure that over holy books tell you how to care for the land etc. but people still damage our environment right?

I believe that it is the nature of the human race to put targets that benefits us first over anything else, it is difficult to deny that looking at things like logging, the amount of CO2 going into the atmosphere everyday and the other damaging activities that the human race has followed the religious texts and cared for the land as was dictated.

Side: yes

I would not classify the human race as a parasite because I am an optimist and think there is plenty of good in the human race.

Side: yes