Space ethics to test directed panspermia
arXiv:1407.5618 · doi:10.1016/j.lssr.2014.07.003
Abstract
The hypothesis that Earth was intentionally seeded with life by a preceding extraterrestrial civilization is believed to be currently untestable. However, analysis of the situation where humans themselves embark on seeding other planetary systems motivated by survival and propagation of life reveals at least two ethical issues calling for specific solutions. Assuming that generally intelligence evolves ethically as it evolves technologically, the same considerations might be applied to test the hypothesis of directed panspermia: if life on Earth was seeded intentionally, the two ethical requirements are expected to be satisfied, what appears to be the case.
6 pages. Accepted in Life Sciences in Space Research. Keywords: astrobiology, directed panspermia, SETI, genetic code, space ethics. Version 3: some links updated
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