The Impact of Discovering Life beyond EarthSteven J. Dick Cambridge University Press, 29.10.2015 The search for life in the Universe, once the domain of science fiction, is now a robust research program with a well-defined roadmap, from studying the extremes of life on Earth to exploring the possible niches for life in the Solar System and discovering thousands of planets far beyond it. In addition to constituting a major scientific endeavor, astrobiology is one of the most popular topics in astronomy, and is of growing interest to a broad community of thinkers from across the academic spectrum. In this volume, distinguished philosophers, theologians, anthropologists, historians and scientists discuss the big questions about how the discovery of extraterrestrial life, whether intelligent or microbial, would impact society. Their remarkable and often surprising findings challenge our foundational concepts of what the discovery of alien life may hold for humankind. Written in easily accessible language, this thought-provoking collection engages a wide audience of readers from all backgrounds. |
Inhalt
The philosophy of astrobiology | |
History discovery analogy | |
A multidimensional impact model for the discovery | |
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alien civilizations altruism analogy Animal Cognition animals anthropocentric approach argued assumptions astrobiology astronomical behavior BISAs bottlenose dolphins brain Buddhism Cambridge University Press Chaisson chimpanzees cognitive communication complex concepts consciousness COPUOS cosmic evolution Cosmos COSPAR cultural evolution Darwin Darwinian detection Dick discovery of extraterrestrial Earth encounter energy environment ethical evolutionary evolved example exist exoplanets exploration extrasolar planets extraterrestrial civilizations extraterrestrial intelligence Extraterrestrial Life Debate extremophiles forms galaxy Grinspoon Guy Consolmagno ideas impact implications interstellar messages issues Lupisella Mars mathematics microbial moral status NASA natural selection nonhuman normative aspiration organisms perspective philosophical physical planetary protection planets possible postbiological potential problem protocols question religion religious scenarios SchulzeMakuch science fiction scientific scientists search for extraterrestrial SETI SETI Institute signal social society Solar System space species stars superintelligence technological terrestrial theology theory Traphagan understand universal biology Vakoch worldview York