The monoliths really like their beaches free of tourists when they're getting a suntan from both stars.

To paraphrase from the Matrix:

Humanity is a virus

On a large enough scale of the solar system, if you zoom out just right, planets and stars can resemble interactions you can see on a molecular level inside a human body. Most of the time, it is normal organic operation. Every so often though, something goes wrong and you can see a new virus or cancer form on previously healthy cells. Smith had a point. From that perspective life on a planet doesnt look much different.