I recently listened to a SETI Big Picture Science podcast with Adam Frank, author of Little Book of Aliens, which I do own, but have yet to read (there is always one more book to read as one professor put it). Adam Frank was highly optimistic that we will detect technosignatures on exoplanets within the short oncoming years, perhaps with or without the James Webb Space Telescope. Interestingly, while he was highly confident that we will detect alien life, he was very dismissive of science fiction that explores the ideas of alien life. I don’t think he understands that much of science fiction functions as morality tales, intended to reflect society as it is in the context of how we might make First Contact. Frank sees definite confirmation of alien life as revolutionizing the world, forcing us to come to terms with this new scientific reality.
What do I do here on this website? I boldly proclaim myself to be a Space Ethicist and a Strategist. One only needs to read my About page to see that is not where my background lays in, though I am trained in thinking from an ethical perspective. Still, many people may not consider Space Ethics to be my thought experiments in First Contact within the complete theorizing of what that might be life. However, is that universally disapproved of? No.
Consider Stephen J Firth’s academic paper in Space Polity, “An Assay on The Hobbesian Trap and Axioms of First Contact.” Is this not exactly what I discuss here? Firth considers what the circumstances of an alien species arriving to Earth might be like and what the ramifications and consequences would be. He discusses language. I have discussed language barriers here and here. He discusses the possibility of hostilities, which I have discussed here and here. Firth develops his arguments within the context of First Contact happening from alien species visiting us, not the other way around, which I have done frequently. Please understand that I am not attempting to boast. It is even likely that Firth’s paper may not be taken seriously within academic circles, but the argument is still being presented. That is worth consideration.
I have also mentioned just how difficult it would be for us to make such a long voyage in order for humans to be the ones making First Contact. The well-respected magazine Scientific American agrees with that assessment. In their article, “Why We’ll Never Live in Space,” Sarah Scoles does a wonderful job describing just how many ways long-term space travel would try to kill us. I have mentioned, here and there, that to develop the technology for humans to achieve long-term space flight, we would likely need to develop positive diplomatic relations with a species that visits us first and is willing to share such technology.
It is also important to consider Professor Benjamin Sachs-Cobbe’s article in scholarly oriented online journal, The Conversation, “Eight ethical questions about exploring outer space that need answers.” Here is the essence of Space Ethics that those with an interest in this website should not skip over. These are elemental essentials that must be addressed first and foremost before we throw ourselves out too far within our own solar system, not to mention any further. Consider this Prime Directive context material. On this I feel I have not illustrated the importance of with absolute certainty. That, however, does not make this content less important.
So, while I have not 100% been adhering to the spirit of Space Ethics within its totality, I have still been exploring a subgroup of the discipline that I feel still has value, regardless of Adam Frank’s dislike of science fiction. I would like to note that as this website continues to develop I do fully intend to incorporate more traditional aspects of Space Ethics as well, and not just hypothetical thought experiments. That should make Adam Frank-types satisfied. I am the first to state this is still a work in progress.
[Header image take from here]