This line of thinking turns on the assumption that people are rational. Obviously it would be stupid to destroy something that gives you an infinite stream of income (in most cases; I have seen it demonstrated that this is actually the most profitable option in some cases.) Take away rationality and the whole argument falls on its face. And there is plenty of evidence that humans are myopic, irrational beings. So I would be extremely reluctant to fork over elephants, whales or pretty much anything to a capitalist.
Starting with Kahneman and Tversky, a lot (most?) of interesting work in economics over the last 30 years has been in revising the standard rational actor model to incorporate all of the irrationalities which are reliably exhibited by we homo sapiens.
It's become very fashionable among the intelligentsia to make these sorts of claims.
I have never liked elitist thinking, which is why I vote the way I do.
With regard to elephants in particular, I give you buffalo, as an example of an endangered herd animal which is no longer endangered, and in fact, is available for your next BBQ at the local grocery store. That's not intelligentsia, elitist theory, that's history.
As for whales, or fish, things become more tricky, if you can't put a fence around them and say "these are mine".
I really cannot fathom the kind of confusion necessary to regard empirical knowledge as "elitist".
I don't particularly like the Second Law of Thermodynamics, but calling it elitist and voting for people who promise to ignore it really wouldn't accomplish much.
And there is plenty of evidence that humans are myopic,
irrational beings.
I was responding to the above statement, which, in the context you used it, was frankly, elitist, in that you imply that the unwashed masses need guidance from their betters.
Starting with Kahneman and Tversky, a lot (most?) of interesting work in economics over the last 30 years has been in revising the standard rational actor model to incorporate all of the irrationalities which are reliably exhibited by we homo sapiens.