I've been thinking a lot about this, because I'm weird like that. If, somehow, scientists knew that the destruction of earth would happen sometime in the near-future - for argument's sake, let's say within a five year span or less - should they tell us or not? I mean, it's bound to happen eventually - when the sun consumes earth as it dies - but then, I think it would be obvious to everyone that something was happening because of the changes. But perhaps a massive tidal wave, or a meteor shower, I don't know. Use your imagination. Myself, I would definitely want a warning so I could say final goodbyes and whatnot, but I don't think the best course of action would be to warn the world because there are simply too many unstable, irrational people out there, and they would ruin the fragile stability of the world very quickly. I wouldn't want to spend my last days in chaos. So I suppose I would rather be ignorant of it until the very end.
(so I don't get a "topic too vague" auto response ):
Topic for debate: If scientists ever gain advance knowledge about a near-future destruction of the earth, should they tell or keep quiet about it?

It might be argued that it is happening now, by degrees, and that the scientists are telling us by degrees. The frog doesn't know when it's too late if the water in the pot is heated gradually.

Let's see--we've got humongous holes in the ozone layer, and the amphibious life is dying (again, frogs). It's just a lowly part of the food chain at this point. The pH of the oceans has become more acidic, the whales are beaching themselves (the only thing they think might be doing it is submarine sonar, but it isn't entirely known), a huge chunk of a gargantuan, ancient iceberg is sloughing off, and there are massive wildfires that are destroying huge amounts of acreage in the west.

Fishing off the northeast coast of the U.S. is declining from over-fishing. Run-off from farms is polluting the water--hormones and antibiotics are in the meats we eat (including fish) and it is being documented that both young human males and females are exhibiting signs of heightened estrogen levels which help induce early puberty and give males gynecomastia and other female characteristics.

Super germs are resistant to antibiotics these days, in part due to their overusage in the past by doctors, but also partly because of antibiotic use in animals (whether they show symptoms of an illness or not) that we consume.

There are smog alerts in our larger cities of the world--Los Angeles, Mexico City, Houston, etc., where people have to stay inside if they have sensitivity to poor air quality.

Individually, none of these things would probably herald the end of humanity as we know it. Individually, many of these things could be remedied, e.g., stopping the injudicious use of antibiotics and hormones in cattle and poultry, and the overuse of fertilizers on our crops. But here come the major corporation attorneys to represent their clients' interests above all others...

Earth will continue to exist whether human beings are on it or not. I think our species is trying very hard to kill itself, and it will succeed gradually. More ailments--less access to health care and less funds devoted to prevention.

Then there is always war. With the exception of the babies conceived before the soldiers ship out, war is always successful in decreasing the population. Add to this Mutual Assured Destruction, building nukes that are "deterrents" but will always have someone there with the launch codes in case the Prez gets an idea.*

Barring having a comet or a bunch of them coming to hit us dead on, we are not going to get a big warning that we're all going to die. At that point I am sort of 50/50 on whether we should know it or not, but the newspapers and TV will be intent on selling the story right up until the bitter end.

Have a nice day.

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*Edited to say: In fairness, I want to include any world leaders, or terrorists, who have access to nukes and get the crazy idea to use them!

Paladin Elspeth

I agree. Humanity is like a family of alcoholics still in denial.

Suzy

If there is any chance of survival, then yes they should tell us. If not... if its some giant asteroid thats about to crash into Earth and destroy all life, then naw.. whats the point?

It would be to depressing to continue, knowing that there is no hope for one's children to ever grow old...

I happen to believe that given the facts, the bulk of humanity WILL do the right things to implement changes to prevent them from dying off. There is not a stronger instinct than the need to survive. Progress may be slow but it's progress nonetheless.

If it was something like an asteroid impacting in 2 weeks, yes, I think it would be nice to be told about that. families would want to be together in the end.

Although in general I hate the concept of the government keeping information from us, I'd have to say keep it a secret in this case. As Suzy said, there would be enough irrational (or rational in this case?) people out there to just create a situation of general chaos. This would probably prevent any of those who wanted to be with their families from doing so, and certainly make that experience less than they would desire in any case. So, I don't really see anything positive happening if everyone knew.

Paladin, I think you fail to notice the supreme planning involved here. Mankind is on pace to finish off this planet just shortly after they've developed the technology to simply move to another one, where the process can be continued.

Keep it secret. If there was an asteriod coming towards Earth that has the potential to destroy all life, then keep it quiet. Society would break in an instant if word got out. Riots, religious mass hysteria, etc

You can't keep anything that big a secret.

Not if you are very careful

All it takes is a few amateur astronomers and/or physics students to see the terrestrial object and plot its course, and the cat will be out of the bag.

I think that, panic or not, we have a right to know what is going to happen to us. It is yet another thing that separates us from the rest of the animals.

They should definitely keep it quiet!

If it is inevitable and will undoubtedly put an end to life as
we know it, there is no use having the information before the fact.

It goes along the lines of this: If you could go to a fortune
teller and find out when you are going to die, would you
want to know? (assuming you cannot change the circumstances
of your death). I wouldn't want to know because I'd spend
the rest of my life thinking about it.

Just live, and be ready for anything that may happen on this
doomed planet!

Definately tell us. If we are about to die, does it make a diefference if somebody's store got looted? Do we need to make sure everything is in perfect order as we die? Our lives are structured enough, I'd rather be given the freedom of not caring about tomorrow if I am about to die. Not to mention that I think it would be criminal to let people waste their lives planning for tomorrow and not live for the present if the present is all that is there. I would welcome the chaos.

Definitely tell me. I'd rather have the time to say "goodbye."

Also, predictions aren't always completely true. The meteor that supposedly changed the planet's environment and killed off most of the dinosaurs didn't kill ALL of them. Some were able to adapt. Perhaps some of us will, too, if we know enough in advance to figure out how we could adapt to the impending changes.