Extraterrestrial intelligence and moral standing

IF 1.7 4区 物理与天体物理 Q3 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS International Journal of Astrobiology Pub Date : 2022-09-01 DOI:10.1017/s1473550422000337
M. Ćirković, Ana Katić
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Abstract

We consider the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence (SETI) activities from a bioethical standpoint. In particular, we argue that there is a moral duty to search for other intelligent beings in the Universe. Some of them could – and are likely to be – morally enhanced in the sense that they are not only capable of unmistakable moral reasoning but are also capable of consistently acting upon the results of such deliberations. Even if the probability of finding such morally superior beings is small, it is higher than zero in any case; in fact, our astrobiological knowledge suggests that this probability is significant. Hence, there are both deductive and inductive arguments for the proposition that our duty is to search for such morally superior extraterrestrial beings. In other words, there is a duty to undertake and support our SETI efforts. The argument to that effect runs parallel to some of the arguments deployed in current debates on human moral enhancement.
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外星智慧和道德地位
我们从生物伦理的角度考虑搜寻地外智慧生物(SETI)活动。特别是,我们认为在宇宙中寻找其他智慧生物是一种道德责任。他们中的一些人可以——而且很可能——在道德上得到加强,因为他们不仅能够进行准确无误的道德推理,而且还能够始终如一地根据这种审议的结果采取行动。即使找到道德上优越的人的概率很小,但在任何情况下都大于零;事实上,我们的天体生物学知识表明,这种可能性是显著的。因此,对于我们的责任是寻找道德上优越的外星生物这一命题,有演绎和归纳两种论证。换句话说,我们有责任承担并支持我们的SETI努力。这种观点与当前关于人类道德提升的辩论中的一些观点如出一辙。
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来源期刊
International Journal of Astrobiology
International Journal of Astrobiology 地学天文-地球科学综合
CiteScore
3.70
自引率
11.80%
发文量
45
审稿时长
>12 weeks
期刊介绍: International Journal of Astrobiology is the peer-reviewed forum for practitioners in this exciting interdisciplinary field. Coverage includes cosmic prebiotic chemistry, planetary evolution, the search for planetary systems and habitable zones, extremophile biology and experimental simulation of extraterrestrial environments, Mars as an abode of life, life detection in our solar system and beyond, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, the history of the science of astrobiology, as well as societal and educational aspects of astrobiology. Occasionally an issue of the journal is devoted to the keynote plenary research papers from an international meeting. A notable feature of the journal is the global distribution of its authors.
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