Impact of Discovering Life beyond Earth (eBook, PDF)

Redaktion: Dick, Steven J.

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

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.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Cambridge University Press
• Erscheinungstermin: 26. Oktober 2015
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781316426869
• Artikelnr.: 44171789

Inhaltsangabe

Introduction: astrobiology and society Steven J. Dick; Part I. Motivations
and Approaches. How Do We Frame the Problems of Discovery and Impact?:
Introduction; 1. Current approaches to finding life beyond earth, and what
happens if we do Seth Shostak; 2. The philosophy of astrobiology: the
Copernican and Darwinian presuppositions Iris Fry; 3. History, discovery,
analogy: three approaches to the impact of discovering life beyond earth
Steven J. Dick; 4. Silent impact: why the discovery of extraterrestrial
life should be silent Clément Vidal; Part II. Transcending
Anthropocentrism. How Do We Move beyond our Own Preconceptions of Life,
Intelligence and Culture?: Introduction; 5. The landscape of life Dirk
Schulze-Makuch; 6. The landscape of intelligence Lori Marino; 7. Universal
biology: assessing universality from a single example Carlos Mariscal; 8.
Equating culture, civilization, and moral development in imagining
extraterrestrial intelligence: anthropocentric assumptions? John Traphagan;
9. Communicating with the other: infinity, geometry, and universal math and
science Douglas Vakoch; Part III. Philosophical, Theological, and Moral
Impact. How Do We Comprehend the Cultural Challenges Raised by Discovery?:
Introduction; 10. Life, intelligence and the pursuit of value in cosmic
evolution Mark Lupisella; 11. 'Klaatu barada nikto' - or, do they really
think like us? Michael Ruse; 12. Alien minds Susan Schneider; 13. The moral
subject of astrobiology: guideposts for exploring our ethical and political
responsibilities towards extraterrestrial life Elspeth Wilson and Carol
Cleland; 14. Astrobiology and theology Robin Lovin; 15. Would you baptize
an extraterrestrial? Guy Consolmagno, SJ; Part IV. Practical
Considerations: How Should Society Prepare for Discovery - and
Non-Discovery?: Introduction; 16. Is there anything new about astrobiology
and society? Jane Maienschein; 17. Evaluating preparedness for the
discovery of extraterrestrial life: considering potential risks, impacts
and plans Margaret Race; 18. Searching for extraterrestrial intelligence:
preparing for an expected paradigm break Michael A. G. Michaud; 19. SETI in
non-western perspective John Traphagan and Julian W. Traphagan; 20. The
allure of alien life: public and media framings of extraterrestrial life
Linda Billings; 21. Internalizing null extraterrestrial 'signals': an
astrobiological app for a technological society Eric Chaisson; Index.