Emigrating beyond Earth : human adaptation and space colonization / Cameron M. Smith and Evan T. Davies.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smith, Cameron M.

Contributor:

Davies, Evan T.

Series:

Springer-Praxis books in popular science.

Springer Praxis books in popular science

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Space colonies.

Human evolution.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (304 p.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2012.

Place of Publication:

New York : Springer Science, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

For four million years humankind has been actively expanding geographically and in doing so has adapted to a wide variety of hostile environments. Now we are looking towards the ultimate adaptation - the colonization of space. Emigrating Beyond Earth illustrates that this is not a technocratic endeavor, but a natural continuation of human evolution; a journey not just for the engineer and rocket scientist, but for everyman. Based on the most current understanding of our universe, human adaptation and evolution, the authors explain why space colonization must be planned as an adaptation to, rather than the conquest of, space. Emigrating Beyond Earth argues that space colonization is an insurance policy for our species, and that it isn't about rockets and robots, it's about humans doing what we've been doing for four million years: finding new places and new ways to live. Applying a unique anthropological approach, the authors outline a framework for continued human space exploration and offer a glimpse of a possible human future involving interstellar travel and settlement of worlds beyond our own.

Contents:

List of Figures

List of Tables

Acknowledgements and Dedications

About the Authors

Preface

Part I: The Context and Uniqueness of Human Evolution and Adaptation

Chapter 1: The Extraterrestrial Adaptation: Humanity, Evolution and Migration Into Space

Chapter 2: Stardust: The Origins of Life, Evolution and Adaptation

Chapter 3: The Adaptive Equipment of the Genus Homo: Symbolism and Niche Construction

Part II: Arguments For and Against Human Space Colonization

Chapter 4: A Choice of Catastrophes - Common Arguments for Space Colonization

Chapter 5: False Choices - Common Objections to Human Space Colonization

Part III: Human Adaptation to Space - Lessons from the Past and Shaping the Future

Chapter 6: Starpaths - Adaptation to Oceania

Chapter 7: Building an Adaptive Framework for Human Future in Space

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786613934789

9781283622332

1283622335

9781461411659

1461411653

OCLC:

795908250