Extraterrestrial Altruism: Evolution And Ethics In The Cosmos (the Frontiers Collection)
by Douglas A. Vakoch /
2013 / English / PDF
3.4 MB Download
Extraterrestrial Altruism
Extraterrestrial Altruism examines a basic assumption of
the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI): that
extraterrestrials will be transmitting messages to us for our
benefit. This question of whether extraterrestrials will be
altruistic has become increasingly important in recent years as
SETI scientists have begun contemplating transmissions from Earth
to make contact.
examines a basic assumption of
the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI): that
extraterrestrials will be transmitting messages to us for our
benefit. This question of whether extraterrestrials will be
altruistic has become increasingly important in recent years as
SETI scientists have begun contemplating transmissions from Earth
to make contact.
Technological civilizations that transmit signals for the benefit
of others, but with no immediate gain for themselves, certainly
seem to be altruistic. But does this make biological sense?
Should we expect altruism to evolve throughout the cosmos, or is
this only wishful thinking? Is it dangerous to send messages to
other worlds, as Stephen Hawking has suggested, or might
humankind benefit from an exchange with intelligence elsewhere in
the galaxy? Would extraterrestrial societies be based on
different ethical principles, or would we see commonalities with
Earthly notions of morality?
Technological civilizations that transmit signals for the benefit
of others, but with no immediate gain for themselves, certainly
seem to be altruistic. But does this make biological sense?
Should we expect altruism to evolve throughout the cosmos, or is
this only wishful thinking? Is it dangerous to send messages to
other worlds, as Stephen Hawking has suggested, or might
humankind benefit from an exchange with intelligence elsewhere in
the galaxy? Would extraterrestrial societies be based on
different ethical principles, or would we see commonalities with
Earthly notions of morality?Extraterrestrial Altruism
Extraterrestrial Altruism
explores these and related questions about the motivations of
civilizations beyond Earth, providing new insights that are
critical for SETI.
explores these and related questions about the motivations of
civilizations beyond Earth, providing new insights that are
critical for SETI.
Chapters are authored by leading scholars from diverse
disciplines—anthropology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer
science, cosmology, engineering, history of science, law,
philosophy, psychology, public policy, and sociology. The book is
carefully edited by Douglas Vakoch, Director of Interstellar
Message Composition at the SETI Institute and professor of
clinical psychology at the California Institute of Integral
Studies. The Foreword is by Frank Drake.
Chapters are authored by leading scholars from diverse
disciplines—anthropology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer
science, cosmology, engineering, history of science, law,
philosophy, psychology, public policy, and sociology. The book is
carefully edited by Douglas Vakoch, Director of Interstellar
Message Composition at the SETI Institute and professor of
clinical psychology at the California Institute of Integral
Studies. The Foreword is by Frank Drake.
This interdisciplinary book will benefit everybody trying to
understand whether evolution and ethics are unique to Earth, or
whether they are built into the fabric of the universe.
This interdisciplinary book will benefit everybody trying to
understand whether evolution and ethics are unique to Earth, or
whether they are built into the fabric of the universe.
