Nobody Owns the Moon: The Ethics of Space Exploitation
Space exploration and off-world commercial activity engage the attention of both enthusiasts and skeptics. Despite differing opinions, what does seem clear is that such activity has increased and is set to expand further—and dramatically so—during the present century.

This book explores some of the ethical issues of the emerging space frontier and evaluates the prospects for the medium-range future: Can terraforming of other worlds succeed? Would it be defensible? Should there be limits to mining in space? Do lifeless planets have an integrity that ought to be respected? Could indigenous microbacteria have intrinsic value? Do we have a duty to extend human life?

The ethics of sending generation ships on interstellar journeys and the risks associated with seeding other worlds with rudimentary forms of life are also discussed. As exploration is as much about humanity as it is about space, the book concludes with a study of the connection between the sharing of a home planet and membership of a single moral community.

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Nobody Owns the Moon: The Ethics of Space Exploitation
Space exploration and off-world commercial activity engage the attention of both enthusiasts and skeptics. Despite differing opinions, what does seem clear is that such activity has increased and is set to expand further—and dramatically so—during the present century.

This book explores some of the ethical issues of the emerging space frontier and evaluates the prospects for the medium-range future: Can terraforming of other worlds succeed? Would it be defensible? Should there be limits to mining in space? Do lifeless planets have an integrity that ought to be respected? Could indigenous microbacteria have intrinsic value? Do we have a duty to extend human life?

The ethics of sending generation ships on interstellar journeys and the risks associated with seeding other worlds with rudimentary forms of life are also discussed. As exploration is as much about humanity as it is about space, the book concludes with a study of the connection between the sharing of a home planet and membership of a single moral community.

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Nobody Owns the Moon: The Ethics of Space Exploitation

Nobody Owns the Moon: The Ethics of Space Exploitation

by Tony Milligan
Nobody Owns the Moon: The Ethics of Space Exploitation

Nobody Owns the Moon: The Ethics of Space Exploitation

by Tony Milligan

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Overview

Space exploration and off-world commercial activity engage the attention of both enthusiasts and skeptics. Despite differing opinions, what does seem clear is that such activity has increased and is set to expand further—and dramatically so—during the present century.

This book explores some of the ethical issues of the emerging space frontier and evaluates the prospects for the medium-range future: Can terraforming of other worlds succeed? Would it be defensible? Should there be limits to mining in space? Do lifeless planets have an integrity that ought to be respected? Could indigenous microbacteria have intrinsic value? Do we have a duty to extend human life?

The ethics of sending generation ships on interstellar journeys and the risks associated with seeding other worlds with rudimentary forms of life are also discussed. As exploration is as much about humanity as it is about space, the book concludes with a study of the connection between the sharing of a home planet and membership of a single moral community.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780786472659
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date: 01/23/2015
Pages: 196
Product dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.90(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Tony Milligan is a lecturer in philosophy at the University of Hertfordshire and specializes in ethics.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vi

Introduction 1

1 Is Terraforming Possible? 7

2 The Ethics of World-Changing 16

3 Tourists and Enthusiasts 33

4 Space Ethics as Dilemmatic 49

5 The Duty to Extend Human Life 60

6 Space Skepticism 77

7 Mining Off-World 90

8 Planetary Protection 101

9 All the Small Things 116

10 Generation Ships 134

11 Seeding Other Worlds 152

12 Our Earthliness 165

Chapter Notes 179

Bibliography 183

Index 187

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