1.A. Wilderness in Space

Location

Student Union 323-A

Start Date

7-3-2022 9:00 AM

End Date

7-3-2022 10:30 AM

Description

  1. Natural and artifactual in the night sky / Alan Johnson
    Humans have long regarded the night sky with awe and wonder. They have used its features for navigation, and investigated the nature of the heavens and their place in the cosmos through astronomical observation. There is substantial evidence that many other species of biota are also behaviorally or ecologically linked to features of the night sky. However, the natural appearance of the night sky has now been altered by human artifacts, including ground-based light pollution and artificial satellites. The scale of these impacts is likely to increase exponentially in the near future. I briefly review the possible significance of changes in the night sky for humans and other animals, with an emphasis on proposed satellite constellations. I raise the concern that this is an issue that requires a much broader evaluation of the aesthetic, cultural, environmental, religious and scientific values at stake. I examine the possible role of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as a legal tool for assessment of the impact of satellites on the human environment. Finally, I consider the need to for similar assessment of the lunar night sky, as humanity extends its presence to the lunar surface and cislunar orbital space.
  2. Faking biosphere / Oskari Sivula
    This paper examines ecological engineering on a planetary scale from the perspective of the concept of (un)naturalness using terraformed Mars as a case study. It has been speculated that in the future it may be possible to make Mars habitable for terrestrial life. This hypothetical process is known as terraforming or planetary ecosynthesis. The possibility of establishing a planet-wide biosphere on Mars or some other celestial body opens up an interesting case of a biosphere that is in some sense unnatural. Furthermore, the concept of natural is central to many arguments in environmental ethics. For example, it has been suggested that the value of an ecosystem is dependent upon its history – it being natural of origin. Naturalness and unnaturalness discussions have centred around two questions. First, is naturalness morally relevant or should it otherwise affect decision making? Second, how naturalness should be understood in different cases? This paper addresses both questions in relation to terraforming Mars. First, I analyse in what sense the biosphere of the terraformed Mars would be unnatural. Second, I examine does its unnaturalness give us an important criterion for deciding whether we should aim to terraform Mars or not.
  3. Wilderness values in outer space / Michael Lindquist
    This paper critiques and develops Mark Woods’ account of wilderness as put forth in his Rethinking Wilderness (2017) with an eye towards application to extraterrestrial environs. First, I clarify Woods’ notion of wilderness and the value-adding properties he argues wildernesses tend to exemplify, namely, their being natural, wild, and free. In expanding on Woods’ work, I will demonstrate that a wilderness concept can survive extension beyond Earth’s atmosphere and that these value-adding properties thereby obtain in places such as Mars and Moon. The presence of these conceptual and normative resources allow us to theorize these places with reference to the relevant wilderness literature. Second, in light of the application of these value-adding properties to alien wilds, I will address planetary protection proposals that argue for a park-style system, such as the one argued for by Cockell and Horneck (2004; 2006). A precautionary wilderness program in a pre-settlement phase of space exploration is distinct from our current defensive wilderness protection paradigm on Earth, perhaps with a notable exception being environmental protections for Antarctica. A pre-settlement phase provides the opportunity to give primacy to wilderness values and wilderness protection in space in a way that is difficult to apply in post-settlement contexts. I will argue for such prioritization, which would thereby impose limits on the shape that future colonization projects could take, and I draw out these implications in reference to idealistic future colonial architecture and civilization-building projects on Mars or Moon.

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Mar 7th, 9:00 AM Mar 7th, 10:30 AM

1.A. Wilderness in Space

Student Union 323-A

  1. Natural and artifactual in the night sky / Alan Johnson
    Humans have long regarded the night sky with awe and wonder. They have used its features for navigation, and investigated the nature of the heavens and their place in the cosmos through astronomical observation. There is substantial evidence that many other species of biota are also behaviorally or ecologically linked to features of the night sky. However, the natural appearance of the night sky has now been altered by human artifacts, including ground-based light pollution and artificial satellites. The scale of these impacts is likely to increase exponentially in the near future. I briefly review the possible significance of changes in the night sky for humans and other animals, with an emphasis on proposed satellite constellations. I raise the concern that this is an issue that requires a much broader evaluation of the aesthetic, cultural, environmental, religious and scientific values at stake. I examine the possible role of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as a legal tool for assessment of the impact of satellites on the human environment. Finally, I consider the need to for similar assessment of the lunar night sky, as humanity extends its presence to the lunar surface and cislunar orbital space.
  2. Faking biosphere / Oskari Sivula
    This paper examines ecological engineering on a planetary scale from the perspective of the concept of (un)naturalness using terraformed Mars as a case study. It has been speculated that in the future it may be possible to make Mars habitable for terrestrial life. This hypothetical process is known as terraforming or planetary ecosynthesis. The possibility of establishing a planet-wide biosphere on Mars or some other celestial body opens up an interesting case of a biosphere that is in some sense unnatural. Furthermore, the concept of natural is central to many arguments in environmental ethics. For example, it has been suggested that the value of an ecosystem is dependent upon its history – it being natural of origin. Naturalness and unnaturalness discussions have centred around two questions. First, is naturalness morally relevant or should it otherwise affect decision making? Second, how naturalness should be understood in different cases? This paper addresses both questions in relation to terraforming Mars. First, I analyse in what sense the biosphere of the terraformed Mars would be unnatural. Second, I examine does its unnaturalness give us an important criterion for deciding whether we should aim to terraform Mars or not.
  3. Wilderness values in outer space / Michael Lindquist
    This paper critiques and develops Mark Woods’ account of wilderness as put forth in his Rethinking Wilderness (2017) with an eye towards application to extraterrestrial environs. First, I clarify Woods’ notion of wilderness and the value-adding properties he argues wildernesses tend to exemplify, namely, their being natural, wild, and free. In expanding on Woods’ work, I will demonstrate that a wilderness concept can survive extension beyond Earth’s atmosphere and that these value-adding properties thereby obtain in places such as Mars and Moon. The presence of these conceptual and normative resources allow us to theorize these places with reference to the relevant wilderness literature. Second, in light of the application of these value-adding properties to alien wilds, I will address planetary protection proposals that argue for a park-style system, such as the one argued for by Cockell and Horneck (2004; 2006). A precautionary wilderness program in a pre-settlement phase of space exploration is distinct from our current defensive wilderness protection paradigm on Earth, perhaps with a notable exception being environmental protections for Antarctica. A pre-settlement phase provides the opportunity to give primacy to wilderness values and wilderness protection in space in a way that is difficult to apply in post-settlement contexts. I will argue for such prioritization, which would thereby impose limits on the shape that future colonization projects could take, and I draw out these implications in reference to idealistic future colonial architecture and civilization-building projects on Mars or Moon.