Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology

329 Pages·2020·6.657 MB·English

by  Kelly C. Smith (editor), Carlos Mariscal (editor)

Social and Conceptual Issues
in Astrobiology

Social and Conceptual
Issues in Astrobiology
Edited by
KELLY C. SMITH AND CARLOS MARISCAL
1
3
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Contents
INTRODUCTION
1. To the Humanities and Beyond: Exploring the Broader Questions
in Astrobiology 3
Kelly Smith and Carlos Mariscal
PART I HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
2. Astrobiology and Society: An Overview 9
Steven J. Dick
3. Hell Is Other Planets: Extraterrestrial Life in the Western
Theological Imagination 21
Derek Malone- France
PART II WHAT IS LIFE?
4. Three Lives and Astrobiology 57
Lucas Mix
5. Dimensions of Life Definitions 79
Emily C. Parke
6. Meaning of the Living State 91
Cole Mathis
7. Life as It Could Be 101
Luis Campos
PART III PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUES IN ASTROBIOLOGY
8. Do Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence?
The Proper Role of Sagan’s Dictum in Astrobiology 117
Sean McMahon
vi Contents
9. Rethinking Conceptual Intelligence and the Astrobiology Debate 130
Jason J. Howard
10. What Are Extremophiles? A Philosophical Perspective 157
Carlos Mariscal and T.D.P. Brunet
PART IV ETHICAL ISSUES IN ASTROBIOLOGY
11. Convergences in the Ethics of Space Exploration 179
Brian Patrick Green
12. Ethics and Extraterrestrials: What Obligations Will We Have to
Extraterrestrial Life? What Obligations Will It Have to Us? 197
Adam Potthast
13. METI or REGRETTI: Ethics, Risk, and Alien Contact 209
Kelly C. Smith
PART V SOCIAL AND LEGAL ISSUES IN ASTROBIOLOGY
14. Earth, Life, Space: The Social Construction of the Biosphere
and the Expansion of the Concept into Outer Space 239
Linda Billings
15. Myth- Free Space Advocacy Part IV: The Myth of Public Support
for Astrobiology 263
James S.J. Schwartz
16. Unnatural Selection or the Best of Both Worlds? The Legal
and Regulatory Ramifications of the Discovery of Alien Life 288
Christopher J. Newman
List of Contributors 307
Index 311
Social and Conceptual Issues
in Astrobiology

INTRODUCTION