6.A. Settlement Issues

Location

Student Union 323-A

Start Date

8-3-2022 2:15 PM

End Date

8-3-2022 3:45 PM

Description

  1. The concept of space colonization in the light of the philosophy of anti-natalism and the notion of “life worth living” / Konrad Szocik
    In my paper I want to discuss the concept of space colonization understood as a form of human rescue (the concept of space refuge) in relation to consequentialism, quality-of-life ethics and the philosophy of anti-natalism. While anti-natalism is a controversial stance and opposes not so much reproduction itself as attempts to extend the duration of human life as a species, it puts in an interesting light the proposal of space colonization on the assumption that life in space will not be free of suffering (that the balance of suffering in relation to the pleasures experienced is always greater). In the paper I point out that while it is difficult to reject the arguments of anti- natalism, the critique of space colonization accepted from the point of view of anti-natalist philosophy should take into account many factors such as the expected ethics of the quality of life on Earth in the future, which we cannot predict today. I also point out that the notion of life worth living (as well as life not worth living or life barely worth living), which is important from the perspective of population ethics, acquires an interesting meaning if it is transferred to the considerations of space colonization.
  2. Plant Time on Mars / Graham Lau and Lucia Monge
    Studies which have sought to explore how plants might grow in Martian conditions often focus on how to grow edible plants with the Martian regolith as a growth matrix. However, few studies have explored what will happen to plants, and to our interspecies relationships with them, when grown on Martian time (with a day roughly 40 minutes longer than on Earth). Through an art and science collaboration sponsored by SUPERCOLLIDER and Space for Humanity, we’re developing automated growth chambers that will allow us to explore the time dynamic for the growth of plants in Martian and Terran time conditions. However, this is more than an experiment in plant growth. We’re also exploring how the time dynamic effects the plants and their relationships with humans. What does it mean for a plant to be experiencing Martian time? What does it mean for a human to share Martian time with a fellow earthling like a plant? Does the experience affect our relationships with each other? These are questions we’re exploring through artistic and scientific approaches to growing plants on Mars time.
  3. So, are we going to Mars or not? / Erik Persson
    In my presentation I will not give a definitive answer to this question. Instead, I will present four philosophical questions that I believe need to be answered first. I will argue that sending humans to Mars is a valuable goal, but it should not be allowed to destroy our chances to find and study any life on Mars. Since human presence on Mars implies a great chance for contamination that will jeopardize our chances of finding life there, I also argue that if we want to send people to Mars, we need to start by intensifying the search for life on Mars. I will also argue, however, that the science in itself is not enough to answer the question whether to go or not. We also need to answer the following philosophical questions:
    A. What does it take to show that there is life on Mars?
    B. What does it take to show there is no life on Mars?
    C. What shall we do if we find life on Mars? (Shall we leave Mars for the Martians? Shall we do as we usually do on Earth and go ahead anyway, or is there a middle road?)
    D. What shall we do if we manage to establish that there is no life on Mars?
    I will explain the questions, point out where the challenges are and suggest how to go about to answer them.

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Mar 8th, 2:15 PM Mar 8th, 3:45 PM

6.A. Settlement Issues

Student Union 323-A

  1. The concept of space colonization in the light of the philosophy of anti-natalism and the notion of “life worth living” / Konrad Szocik
    In my paper I want to discuss the concept of space colonization understood as a form of human rescue (the concept of space refuge) in relation to consequentialism, quality-of-life ethics and the philosophy of anti-natalism. While anti-natalism is a controversial stance and opposes not so much reproduction itself as attempts to extend the duration of human life as a species, it puts in an interesting light the proposal of space colonization on the assumption that life in space will not be free of suffering (that the balance of suffering in relation to the pleasures experienced is always greater). In the paper I point out that while it is difficult to reject the arguments of anti- natalism, the critique of space colonization accepted from the point of view of anti-natalist philosophy should take into account many factors such as the expected ethics of the quality of life on Earth in the future, which we cannot predict today. I also point out that the notion of life worth living (as well as life not worth living or life barely worth living), which is important from the perspective of population ethics, acquires an interesting meaning if it is transferred to the considerations of space colonization.
  2. Plant Time on Mars / Graham Lau and Lucia Monge
    Studies which have sought to explore how plants might grow in Martian conditions often focus on how to grow edible plants with the Martian regolith as a growth matrix. However, few studies have explored what will happen to plants, and to our interspecies relationships with them, when grown on Martian time (with a day roughly 40 minutes longer than on Earth). Through an art and science collaboration sponsored by SUPERCOLLIDER and Space for Humanity, we’re developing automated growth chambers that will allow us to explore the time dynamic for the growth of plants in Martian and Terran time conditions. However, this is more than an experiment in plant growth. We’re also exploring how the time dynamic effects the plants and their relationships with humans. What does it mean for a plant to be experiencing Martian time? What does it mean for a human to share Martian time with a fellow earthling like a plant? Does the experience affect our relationships with each other? These are questions we’re exploring through artistic and scientific approaches to growing plants on Mars time.
  3. So, are we going to Mars or not? / Erik Persson
    In my presentation I will not give a definitive answer to this question. Instead, I will present four philosophical questions that I believe need to be answered first. I will argue that sending humans to Mars is a valuable goal, but it should not be allowed to destroy our chances to find and study any life on Mars. Since human presence on Mars implies a great chance for contamination that will jeopardize our chances of finding life there, I also argue that if we want to send people to Mars, we need to start by intensifying the search for life on Mars. I will also argue, however, that the science in itself is not enough to answer the question whether to go or not. We also need to answer the following philosophical questions:
    A. What does it take to show that there is life on Mars?
    B. What does it take to show there is no life on Mars?
    C. What shall we do if we find life on Mars? (Shall we leave Mars for the Martians? Shall we do as we usually do on Earth and go ahead anyway, or is there a middle road?)
    D. What shall we do if we manage to establish that there is no life on Mars?
    I will explain the questions, point out where the challenges are and suggest how to go about to answer them.