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Space, Philosophy and Ethics

William H. U. Anderson (Ed.)

by Konrad Szocik (University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszow, Poland), Steven D. West (Heritage College & Seminary), Anil Singh Matoo (University of Bristol), Eric Michael Mazur (Virginia Wesleyan University), Anupama A. P. (VIT-AP University), Amar Ramesh Wayal (VIT-AP University), Sergey V. Sychov (Cognitive Technological Systems), Steven J. Firth (University of Helsinki, Finland), Rakhat Abylkasymova , J. Brian Huffling (Southern Evangelical Seminary), Oscar Blanco (Florida International University), Yury Tikhonravov , Ebua Jarvis Ebua (University of Bamenda, Cameroon), Tyler Dalton McNabb (Saint Francis University), C. A. McIntosh , Andrew M. Davis (The Center for Process Studies), Pitshou Moleka

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Humanity continues to search for life outside the Earth, seeking insights into our origins, and to find out whether we are truly alone in the Universe. At the same time, humanity’s expanse beyond Earth is increasingly tangible. 'Space, Philosophy and Ethics' brings together a remarkably diverse set of essays. For the casual reader, it offers something of a ‘hitchhiker’s guide to the ethics of space’. For the ethicist/philosopher/futurist/serious space explorer, it offers building materials for an ethical framework for space exploration. Several essays examine the possible interactions between religious traditions and philosophies, and the unearthly space environment into which humans are poised to step. The impact on our traditions and philosophies is also considered, regardless of whether life—intelligent or otherwise—is there to greet us as we step further out into the cosmos. This book is a must for hardcore scientists, philosophers and lay people alike. Highly Recommended!

Dr. Chris Herd
Professor in the Faculty of Science, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
University of Alberta
Principal Director of the Institute for Space Science and Technology (ISSET)
Member of the NASA Mars 2020 'Perseverance' Rover Mission

Space is infinitely interesting! Space has both scientific and cultural currency because it has captured the imagination of human beings from ancient times until today. What seemed like science fiction centuries and only decades ago, is now science fact. Technological developments present and on the cusp are putting more and more of space into our hands. That is both exciting and frightening at the same time (think Lovecraft)!
This book attempts to speak to the philosophical and ethical issues raised by space. Who owns space? Who should pay for space exploration and what is the impact on human beings on earth today? What happens if we’re not alone in the universe? What is the value and meaning of space exploration? What are the ethical implications of AI and Technology in relation to space exploration (what if they get away from us?!)? Questions! Questions! Questions!
The Call for Chapters for this book Space, Philosophy and Ethics read: “For space science people, this conference is a platform to discuss the subconscious philosophical and ethical implications of their research that have been in the back of their minds while researching. For philosophers and non-specialists, it is an opportunity to learn together and struggle to find solutions for the philosophical and ethical quandaries that space science, exploration and technology present to humanity”.
The approaches to space seem endless. Physics, as Aristotle discovered, inevitably leads to metaphysics, and metaphysics always have ethical concerns. The book loosely follows this outline. It begins and ends with the metaphysical implications of space, the spiritual, if you will. It leads with poetry. That seems appropriate since while we may ask many questions regarding space, we are likely to find very few answers. Then the book briefly looks at the ethical implications of AI and Technology for space exploration. There are chapters that deal with the material ethics of space commerce and ontology. Telos and Axiology (Value) are also explored. This book hopes to facilitate human struggle with the ethical implications of space rather than presuming to solve all its problems.

List of Tables
List of Contributors
Acknowledgments
Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
Introduction
William H. U. Anderson
Concordia University of Edmonton

Chapter 1 Seeing Deeply and Recognizing Love: C. S. Lewis, Non-Reductive Ontology and the Poetry of the Heavens
Steven D. West
Heritage College & Seminary
Chapter 2 Space Spirituality and Ethics
Pitshou Moleka
Postdoctoral Fellow at the Eudoxia Research Centre
Chapter 3 Preserving the Hierarchy of the Cosmos: A Sikh Perspective
Anil Singh Matoo
University of Bristol
Chapter 4 The Impact of Off-Earth Relocation and Settlement on Geo-Oriented Religious Traditions: Judaism as Case Study
Eric Michael Mazur
Virginia Wesleyan University
Chapter 5 Cyberspace Ethics and Existential Choices in Terminator: Dark Fate
A. P. Anupama
VIT-AP University
Amar Ramesh Wayal
VIT-AP University
Chapter 6 Retrofitting the Laws of Robotics: AI Ethics in Space
Sergey V. Sychov
Cognitive Technological Systems
Chapter 7 An Assay on the Hobbesian Trap and Axioms of First Contact
Steven J. Firth
University of Helsinki
Chapter 8 Space Feminism, Exploration, Exploitation and Ethics
Konrad Szocik
University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszow
Rakhat Abylkasymova
Independent Researcher
Chapter 9 Revisiting and Reflecting on Sagan’s Cosmos: An Ethical Ontology of Space in View of Simulacra
Oscar Blanco
Florida International University
Chapter 10 Cosmonautics and Teleonautics: The Search for Value in Outer Space
Yury Tikhonravov
Center for the Study and Development of Intercultural Relations
Chapter 11 Space Commerce and Celestial Transactions: Navigating the Ethical Dimensions
Ebua Jarvis Ebua
University of Bamenda
Chapter 12 Houston, Naturalists Have a Problem: ETI as Evidence for Theism
Tyler Dalton McNabb
Saint Francis University
C. A. McIntosh
Independent Scholar
Chapter 13 Whitehead’s Living Ontology: Five Principles of Process Philosophical Astrotheology
Andrew M. Davis
The Center for Process Studies
Chapter 14 The Implications of Extraterrestrial Life for Christian Theology
J. Brian Huffling
Southern Evangelical Seminary
Bibliography
Index

William H. U. Anderson did his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies and Theology in Postmodern Literary Critical Circles at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Bill is Professor of Pop Culture, Philosophy and Religion at Concordia University of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. He is the author of 'Qoheleth and Its Pessimistic Theology: Hermeneutical Struggles in Wisdom Literature' (1997) and 'Scepticism and Ironic Correlations in the Joy Statements of Qoheleth?' (2010). He has worked interdisciplinarily throughout his academic career and this is his fifth edited volume with Vernon Press in the Philosophy of Religion Series. His next book with VP is Music and Mind, co-edited with his Musicology colleague Dr. Jamie Meyers-Riczu, slated for 2025.

Aesthetic Cosmological Principle,AI Ethics,Alien First Contact,Anthropocosmic,Artificial Intelligence (AI),Basic Goods,Capitalism,Cobb,Cognitive Agents,Commercialization,Cosmic Dance,Cosmic Ethics,Cosmic Stewardship,Cosmogony,Cosmology,Cosmos,Creation,Creativity,Cyberspace Ethics,Digital Era,Equitable Access,Ethical Frameworks,Ethics,ETI,Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism,Existentialism,Exploitation,Extraterrestrial Intelligence,Feminism,Final Goals,Final Values,First Contact,First Contact Protocol,Ford,Geo-Orientation,God,Griffin,Halakhah,Hartshorne,Haught,Heavens,Heidegger,Hobbesian Trap,Human-Machine,Imago Dei,Incarnation,Jews,Lady Luna,Laws of Robotics,Lewis,Militarism,Mitzvot,Nationalism,Naturalism,New Values,Objective List Theory,Ontological,Ontology,Origin of Life,Panexperientialism,Poetry,Popular Culture,Postmodern,Process Astrotheology,Process Metaphysics,Process Theology,Psychoanalysis,Rabbinic Judaism,R?g M?r? Sikh Philosophy,Reductive Fallacy,Rituals,Sagan,Salvation,Science-Fiction,Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI),Sikh Theology,Simulacrum,Sin,Space,Space Commerce,Space Commercialism,Space Exploration,Space Ownership,Space Tourism,Spirituality,Technological Advancements,Technological Impact,Telos,The Fermi Paradox,Theism,Theology,Theology of Space,Tourism,Value Pluralism,Whitehead,Worldview

Bibliographic Information

Book Title

Space, Philosophy and Ethics


ISBN

979-8-8819-0197-4


Edition

1st


Number of pages

326


Physical size

236mm x 160mm


Publication date

January 2025
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