That is true of the current intermediate technology level. If we manage to develop sufficiently advanced technology that we no longer need to use the Earth to support ourselves, it could change.
Given environmentalists proposing to turn the whole Earth into a nature reserve, the answer I would like to be able to give is, “Sure, have fun. I’m off to the asteroid belt to find some dead matter to turn into computational substrate. Send me some postcards.”
That is true of the current intermediate technology level. If we manage to develop sufficiently advanced technology that we no longer need to use the Earth to support ourselves, it could change.
Given environmentalists proposing to turn the whole Earth into a nature reserve, the answer I would like to be able to give is, “Sure, have fun. I’m off to the asteroid belt to find some dead matter to turn into computational substrate. Send me some postcards.”