we make increasing efforts to prevent extinction if a species’ population drops, but that’s basically just a convenient shorthand for the utility of future members of that species who cannot exist if it goes extinct.
In additional to the concept of utility of hypothetical future beings, there’s also the utility of the presently living members of that species who are alive thanks to the extinction-prevention efforts in this scenario.
The species is not extinct because these individuals are living. If you can help the last members of a species maintain good health for a long time, that’s good even if they can’t reproduce.
In additional to the concept of utility of hypothetical future beings, there’s also the utility of the presently living members of that species who are alive thanks to the extinction-prevention efforts in this scenario.
The species is not extinct because these individuals are living. If you can help the last members of a species maintain good health for a long time, that’s good even if they can’t reproduce.