Reprogramming predators

Abstract

A cruelty-free biosphere is technically feasible, achievable by redesigning ecosystems, using immunocontraception, deploying marine nanorobots, rewriting the vertebrate genome, and harnessing computational resources to manage a compassionate global ecosystem. Global veganism, achievable through genetically engineered artificial meat, is a necessary first step. However, a major ethical challenge is the fate of obligate predators, whose conservation is currently a central value. While some extinctions (e.g., smallpox virus, malaria-causing parasites) are desirable, the extinction or reprogramming of predators, especially those with high cultural significance like large felines, raises complex questions. Reprogramming could involve techniques like remote-controlled behavior modification, eliminating fear responses in prey, and genetically modifying predator behavior. Though seemingly utopian, this “abolitionist project” of eliminating suffering aligns with core ethical principles of various traditions, including ahimsa and concepts of divine compassion. As technology advances, the default assumption should be maximizing well-being, requiring justification for any deviation. – AI-generated abstract.