Daydreaming -– “choices have consequences.” Thoughts fly far away to times before human existence.

According to Edward O. Wilson, prominent philosopher, scientist and author, we have arrived at the present human condition through evolutionary choices made from the earliest beginnings of life. From the time before recorded history, life evolved into species, some already extinct, some facing extinction, and some continuing to evolve.

In his just-released book, “The Meaning of Human Existence,” Wilson argues that homo sapiens have now reached a point where our knowledge and technological skills have the ability to affect the future of mankind. We also, by our choices, have the ability to wipe out all life on this planet, our only home.

Wilson believes it is entirely possible and perhaps probable that there is other life on other spheres of universes, if not our own universe. Yet, he points to the fact that we, here on planet Earth, have evolved to live only in the conditions offered specifically to us with our own bodily make-up and needs for survival. If we were to try to live in any other atmosphere, we would not survive. The same holds true for any life that evolved in another place and time. They would not survive if they were to try to co-habit or overpower our species. He suggests that perhaps “they” may be watching us right now, but know that neither species would survive a direct encounter.

I agree with him on every point. Homo sapiens in Latin is “wise man.” We have knowledge, but have we been wise in our decisions? With knowledge comes responsibility. Our choices, too many times, have been taken for immediate political reasons, not for reasons that are made with the whole of existence in mind.

A good example is the Keystone XL pipeline. Yes, it will provide us with fossil fuel for our immediate need for energy. Yes, it will provide much-needed jobs. Yes, it is politically expedient for some.

And yet, there is no doubt that the pipeline will spew out tons of CO2 that will exacerbate our already-contaminated atmosphere. A better choice would be to transfer many of the tax exemptions from the fossil fuel behemoths and put those tax exemptions toward the development of a sustainable and safe form of energy. This decision will provide new jobs, begin to clean up the air we breathe, which will reduce illnesses caused by our polluted air, which will reduce health-care costs, which will begin to stop the accelerated accumulation of CO2, which will begin to put a stop to the dreadful and deadly weather affecting the most vulnerable of us.

Wilson is clear. We have a moral and technical choice to be made at this very moment in time. We would be wise to make the right choice.

Sally Breen lives in Windham.