Social and conceptual issues in astrobiology

Author(s)

    • Smith, Kelly C.
    • Mariscal, Carlos

Bibliographic Information

Social and conceptual issues in astrobiology

edited by Kelly C. Smith and Carlos Mariscal

Oxford University Press, c2020

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Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

How universal are our moral obligations? Should we attempt to communicate with life beyond our planet? What is "life"? Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology explores the most important questions related to the field of astrobiology, and the resulting book is the most comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach focused on the humanistic issues of the multidisciplinary science of astrobiology to date. Questions surrounding life on other planets have troubled humankind for centuries; this volume outlines the questions for the next decade of research in the field of astrobiology. Kelly C. Smith and Carlos Mariscal have assembled the top scholars from fields spanning history, communication, philosophy, law, and theology to consider the implications of life elsewhere. The perspectives supplied by this expansive group of contributors have never before been collected in book a book focused on astrobiology. This book sets a benchmark for future work in astrobiology, giving readers the groundwork from which to base the continuous scholarship coming from this ever-growing scientific field.

Table of Contents

Introduction To the Humanities and Beyond: Exploring the Broader Questions in Astrobiology Kelly Smith and Carlos Mariscal Part I - Historical Background Astrobiology and Society: An Overview Steve Dick Hell Is Other Planets: Extraterrestrial Life in the Western Theological Imagination Derek Malone-France Part II - What is Life? Three Lives and Astrobiology Lucas Mix Dimensions of Life Definitions Emily Parke Meaning of the Living State Cole Mathis Life as It Could Be Luis Campos Part III - Philosophical Issues in Astrobiology Do Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence? The Proper Role of Sagan's Dictum in Astrobiology? Sean McMahon Re-thinking Conceptual Intelligence and the Astrobiology Debate Jason J. Howard What are Extremophiles? A Philosophical Perspective Carlos Mariscal and Tyler Brunet Part IV - Ethical Issues in Astrobiology Convergences in the Ethics of Space Exploration Brian Green Ethics and Extra-Terrestrials: What obligations will we have to extra-terrestrial life? What obligations will it have to us? Adam Potthast METI or REGRETTI: Ethics, Risk and Alien Contact Kelly C. Smith Part V - Social and Legal Issues in Astrobiology Earth, Life, Space: The social construction of the biosphere and the expansion of the concept into outer space Linda Billings Myth-Free Space Advocacy Part IV: The Myth of Public Support for Astrobiology Jim Schwartz Environmental Law and Space Exploration Christopher J. Newman

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