: The term helps collapse artificial divisions—nationalism, race, and creed—into a single "global subjectivity".
Being an earthling is more than just living on a specific planet; it is a physical and elemental feeling of connection to the living world. Earthling
: When considering the future, such as potential contact with alien life, being an "earthling" provides a moral framework for deciding how to weigh the needs of our own planet's inhabitants against those of other worlds. : Adopting an earthling identity helps individuals feel
: Adopting an earthling identity helps individuals feel they belong to a larger whole, shifting focus from narrow professional or personal goals toward serving the "wholeness" of our global home. Global and Ethical Implications : Before one is a citizen of a
Thinking as an earthling changes how we approach justice and governance. In his work , philosopher David Miller argues that justice should be rooted in the actual social contexts and "real-world" conditions of human life rather than abstract, universal ideals.
: Before one is a citizen of a nation or a member of a profession, one is an earthling.
: This identity suggests a reciprocal relationship with the wind, the fruit we eat, and the soil beneath us.