Extraterrestrial altruism evolution and ethics in the Cosmos Douglas A. Vakoch, editor

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Vakoch, Douglas A., editor.

Series:

Frontiers collection 1612-3018

The Frontiers Collection 1612-3018

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cosmology--Philosophy.

Cosmology.

Altruism.

cosmology.

Medical Subjects:

Altruism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Heidelberg Springer [2013?]

Summary:

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. Should we expect altruism to evolve throughout the cosmos, or is this only wishful thinking? Would this make biological sense? Is it dangerous to send messages to other worlds, as Stephen Hawking has suggested? Would extraterrestrial societies be based on different ethical principles? Extraterrestrial Altruism 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

Contents:

Part I: Introduction Cosmic Evolution, Reciprocity, and Interstellar Tit for Tat Albert A. Harrison

Part II: The Evolution of Altruism: Is Transmitting Dangerous? Extraterrestrial Intelligence: Friends, Foes, or Just Curious? George Michael Eliciting Altruism While Avoiding Xenophobia: A Thought Experiment Jerome H. Barkow Predator

Prey Models and Contact Considerations Douglas Raybeck Harmful ETI Hypothesis Denied: Visiting ETIs Likely Altruists Harold A. Geller Altruism Toward Non-Humans: Lessons for Interstellar Communication Abhik Gupta Caring Capacity and Cosmocultural Evolution: Potential Mechanisms for Advanced Altruism Mark L. Lupisella The Precautionary Principle: Egoism, Altruism, and the Active SETI Debate Adam Korbitz

Part III: Inferring Altruism The Accidental Altruist: Inferring Altruism from an Extraterrestrial Signal Mark C. Langston Interstellar Intersubjectivity: The Significance of Shared Cognition for Communication, Empathy, and Altruism in Space David Dunér Other Minds, Empathy, and Interstellar Communication Tomislav Janović Interspecies Altruism: Learning from Species on Earth Denise L. Herzing

Part IV: Universal Ethics and Law Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Altruism Holmes Rolston III Kenotic Ethics and SETI: A Present-Day View George F.R. Ellis Altruism, Metalaw, and Celegistics: An Extraterrestrial Perspective on Universal Law-Making Adam Korbitz

Part V: Representing Altruism A Logic-Based Approach to Characterizing Altruism in Interstellar Messages Alexander Ollongren Equity and Democracy: Seeking the Common Good as a Common Ground for Interstellar Communication Yvan Dutil Patterns of Extraterrestrial Culture William Sims Bainbridge Evolutionary Perspectives on Interstellar Communication: Images of Altruism Alfred Kracher

Notes:

Includes index

Online resource; title from PDF title page (SpringerLink, viewed September 16, 2013)

Includes bibliographical references and index

Other Format:

Print version Vakoch, Douglas A. Extraterrestrial Altruism : Evolution and Ethics in the Cosmos

ISBN:

9783642377501

3642377505

3642377491

9783642377495

OCLC:

859401042

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license