On the approach for promoting space awareness and outreach using ethics and philosophy.
- Paper number
IAC-08.E5.I.2
- Author
Mr. Imran Majid, Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Mr. Muhammed Farhan Majid, Washington University in St. Louis
- Coauthor
Mr. Ari Litwin, Space Generation Advisory Council
- Year
2008
- Abstract
The Space Age has not only revolutionized human life style but also the general perspective to life. The once culturally distinct societies now belong to a larger commonwealth of mankind, where knowledge and ideas are used as currency and where imagination is the only limitation. Due to the immense cost of space based enterprise, the rationale of the self sustaining individual has transformed to one based on effective networking. It is therefore important for us to re-evaluate ourselves, using ethics and philosophy. For example, Hannah Arendt mentions "the loss of human experience" in "Human condition". Spadoni suggests in "Legal and Ethical Framework for Astronauts in Space Sojourns" that Lunar and Martian exploration should be different than previous colonization ventures undertaken by humans. Philosophy ethics and religion working group of the Space Generation Advisory Council, an NPO in support of UN Program on Space Appliations, has focused on discussing similar frameworks with fresh input from the young generation. It recommended creation of guidelines by and for space-based users (i.e. space professionals and policy makers). These ideas are nevertheless focused on the individual but have implications for the society and the cosmos at large. An outcome of such deliberations is a proposal on an Ethics / Philosophy booklet on outer space. Apart from furthering interest in space-based technology, such an initiative could help promote inter-cultural understanding as space is part of a common natural heritage.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.E5.I.2.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.