Space exploration and off-world commercial activity engage the attention of both enthusiasts and skeptics. Despite differing opinions, what does seem clear is that such activity has increased and is set to expand further--and dramatically so--during the present century. This book explores some of the ethical issues of the emerging space frontier and evaluates the prospects for the medium-range future: Can terraforming of other worlds succeed? Would it be defensible? Should there be limits to mining in space? Do lifeless planets have an integrity that ought to be respected? Could indigenous microbacteria have intrinsic value? Do we have a duty to extend human life? The ethics of sending generation ships on interstellar journeys and the risks associated with seeding other worlds with rudimentary forms of life are also discussed. As exploration is as much about humanity as it is about space, the book concludes with a study of the connection between the sharing of a home planet and membership of a single moral community.
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Space exploration and commercial activity off-world has its skeptics as well as its enthusiasts. What does seem to be clear, however, is that such activity has increased and is set to expand further, and dramatically so, during the present century. This book explores some of the ethical issues which have already started to arise and it explores the prospects for our medium-range future.
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgments  vi
Introduction  1
One. Is Terraforming Possible?  7
Two. The Ethics of ÂWorld-Changing  16
Three. Tourists and Enthusiasts  33
Four. Space Ethics as Dilemmatic  49
Five. The Duty to Extend Human Life  60
Six. Space Skepticism  77
Seven. Mining ÂOff-World  90
Eight. Planetary Protection  101
Nine. All the Small Things  116
Ten. Generation Ships  134
Eleven. Seeding Other Worlds  152
Twelve. Our Earthliness  165
Chapter Notes  179
Bibliography  183
Index  187
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780786472659
Publisert
2015-01-23
Utgiver
Vendor
McFarland & Co Inc
Vekt
272 gr
Høyde
229 mm
Bredde
152 mm
Dybde
10 mm
Aldersnivå
UU, UP, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Forfatter