Metalaw as a Foundation for Active SETI
- Paper number
IAC-07-E6.5.14
- Author
Prof. Douglas Vakoch, SETI Institute and California Institute of Integral Studies, United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Current strategies in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) presuppose an asymmetry between human and extraterrestrial communicants in the degree of responsibility that should be expected to establish contact. For contact to occur, it is argued, an extraterrestrial civilization must be much longer lived than humankind currently is. Because active transmitting is more expensive than passive listening, it has been argued that we should expect that older, extraterrestrial civilizations should bear the onus of transmitting, relieving humankind of this more active role.
This emphasis on the benefits of interstellar communication for humans, rather than for extraterrestrial intelligence, is reflected in the Draft Declaration of Principles Concerning Sending Communications with Extraterrestrial Intelligence, developed within the IAA SETI Committee. This document notes that if a message is sent to an extraterrestrial civilization, “The content of such a message should reflect a careful concern for the broad interests and wellbeing of Humanity....” No mention is made of the potential benefits of such communication for intelligence on other worlds. Although many have suggested that humankind might benefit from joining a “Galactic Club” of other civilizations, few have suggested that humankind should be expected to pay dues to join, or that we should consider the needs and interests of other members of the club.
Principles of Metalaw proposed by Andrew G. Haley and developed by Ernst Fasan may suggest an alternative emphasis, which would also take into account the potential benefits for extraterrestrial intelligence of receiving transmissions from Earth. In describing the principles that may guide the relations between civilizations, Fasan has proposed “It is not a legal, but an ethical principle that one race should help the other by its own activities.” But how could a relatively young civilization such as ours exercise such an ethical obligation, helping a more advanced civilization? The current paper suggests that the very precarious and vulnerable nature of being a young civilization may be a rare commodity in an interstellar exchange, providing invaluable information to share with more technologically advanced civilizations. This is consistent with Patricia Sterns’ observation that an intentional communication could provide important information to another civilization even if they have previously detected intelligence on Earth via leakage radiation.
De novo transmissions from Earth, prior to detection of an extraterrestrial civilization, may also have a salutary impact on future generations of humans. If other civilizations are waiting to reveal their presence until receiving an invitation from humankind, an active SETI program may be a prerequisite to establishing communication with extraterrestrial intelligence. Thus, search strategies based on Metalegal principles that take seriously human obligations to other civilizations may also increase the chances that future generations of humans will make contact with life beyond Earth.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-E6.5.14.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.