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人类就是那疯长的杂草 ——读《第六次灭绝:一部非自然历史》后感




一本书对人最大的影响,莫过于改变了读者的视角(perspective),或者叫“世界观”。对我来说,《第六次灭绝:一部非自然历史》(“The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History” by Elizabeth Kolbert)就是一本这样的好书。上一次给我带来这种变化的书,是《枪炮、细菌和钢铁:人类社会的命运》(“Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies” by Jared Diamond)。两本书的风格,因为作者的背景而有所不同:《枪》书的作者是学者,所以学术性更重一些;这本书的作者是记者和专栏作家,所以语言更加生动、幽默和感性,颇有简·奥斯丁,或是更准确的说,《纽约客》(“New Yorker”)的文风。

然而这幽默是黑色的。全书十三章,每一章都讲述了一个或一类物种灭绝或濒临灭绝的悲壮、悲烈或悲惨的故事。作者以她大师级的驾驭语言的能力,绘声绘色地带着读着去感受她的每一次科考旅行。叙事如同电影蒙太奇一般在现实和历史之间自由切换,而又不失凌乱。连自然科学史也被讲得惊心动魄,充满了肥皂剧般的峰回路转,让人手不释卷。

全书以大量的证据,让读者不得不意识到,我们正在目睹地球历史上第六次物种大灭绝,而且无可争辩,我们人类自己就是这场大灭绝的罪魁祸首。这场大灭绝,不单指当前争论不休的全球变暖——那仅仅是人类最近几百年的“罪行”而已,在地球历史上不过是沧海一粟——而是自从智人(Homo sapiens)诞生的那一刻就开始了。从此,人类就是那疯长的杂草,在极短的时间内将足迹踏遍了地球上几乎每一个角落,成为地球物种中无可争议的霸主。

但是当我们回过头来看几亿年前地球物种的霸主时,就会发现它们无一例外地没有活到今天,无论它们当时是多么地成功。那么有什么理由相信人类就可以逃脱这个命运?就不是地球上曾经称霸一时,独孤求败的过客?地球的资源是有限的,一个物种越成功,其他物种就越快走向灭绝。无论这个强势物种是否主动消灭其他物种,最后的结局都是一样,区别只有灭绝的速度,而且在地球历史的度量下都如白驹过隙。

一个生物物种可以存在很长时间,但是个体却只能存活很短。在我们个体活着的每分每秒,所作所为,真的是由自由意志支配的吗?人类所赖以自豪的人性,真的跟动物性有本质区别吗?我们每个人做的每一件事,归根结底,难道不是生存和繁衍两大本能驱使的么?作为地球当下最成功的物种中的一员,我们在把几乎所有其他物种,以生存和繁衍为目的,自觉不自觉地赶尽杀绝的同时,是不是也在自掘坟墓呢?就算你已经开始思考这些问题,当你看见你的同类都在玩微信、facebook、王者荣耀、打赏女主播……的时候,会不会觉得我们这个物种,除了疯长,其实也并没有别的高于其他一切物种的追求呢?

作者在书的最后,给我们留下了一丝希望。她举了几个例子表明,人类一旦想让某个物种继续,也是难以置信地努力,而且略有成效。然而杯水车薪,能阻挡住那埋在我们DNA最深处、为了生存和繁衍强取豪夺的本能吗?

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