AbstractThis paper discusses the “myth” that we have an innate drive to explore or to migrate into space. Three interpretations of the claim are considered. According to the “mystical interpretation,” it is part of our “destiny” as humans to explore and migrate into space. Such a claim has no rational basis and should play no role in rationally- or evidence-based space advocacy. According to the “cultural interpretation,” exploration and migration are essential features of human culture and society. These are not universal features because there are cultures and societies that have not encouraged exploration and migration. Moreover, the cultures that have explored have seldom conducted exploration for its own sake. According to the “biological interpretation” there is a psychological or genetic basis for exploration or migration. While there is limited genetic evidence for such a claim, that evidence suggests that genes associated with exploratory behavior were selected for subsequent to migration, making it unlikely that these genes played a role in causing migration. In none of these senses is it clearly true that we have an innate drive to explore or migrate into space; and even if we did it would be fallacious to argue that the existence of such a drive justified spaceflight activities.

    HighlightsAdvocates for a more reasoned and evidence-based approach to space advocacy.Uses historical evidence to assess whether human cultures are exploratory by nature.Uses genetic evidence to assess whether humans have a genetic urge to explore.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff prüfen

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen

    Bestellung bei Subito €


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    Myth-free space advocacy part I—The myth of innate exploratory and migratory urges


    Beteiligte:

    Erschienen in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 137 ; 450-460


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2017-05-03


    Format / Umfang :

    11 pages




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch




    COPD and systemic inflammation: myth or reality? Myth

    Di Maria, G. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2008


    Guidelines and clinical practice. Myth or reality? Myth

    Miravitlles, M. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2008


    Turbo myth busters - Myth: OEM vs. non-OEM parts

    Kurz, Rainer | Online Contents | 2008


    Turbo myth busters

    Online Contents | 2006


    Turbo myth busters

    Kurz, Rainer | Online Contents | 2010