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Would it? There are plenty of curiosity to be had on the ground, in the air and under water. Birds flying, insects digging, fishes swimming. Sure, they might n

Would it? There are plenty of curiosity to be had on the ground, in the air and under water. Birds flying, insects digging, fishes swimming. Sure, they might not feel the need to visit space if they had no stars, no moon and no sun but who knows? They might end up going there anyway due to population and create their own superstructures.

Santosh83 9y ago
The existence of stars gives us (humans at least) an idea that we actually live in a vast and varied universe and that I think is crucial psychological motivation to push boundaries and explore. If we lived within a void and believed that our one planet (and its star) were the universe, we would be content to develop only those skill & intelligence needed to survive on the planet. It might stagnate after a point. Of course, even a small telescope would reveal the distant galaxies, but would a hypothetical intelligent species get to that point at all? And even if they could glimpse the distant galaxies, what could conceivably motivate them to develop space travel? Am just wondering aloud. Astronomy was (and is) a pretty fundamental pillar of our scientific development and all that it has brought us. An inky black sky would have interesting effects upon nascent, intelligent species.
- Raphmedia 9y ago
  The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy actually explored the concept. One planet is in a dust cloud. The sky was completely black, and thus the people of that planet led insular lives and never realised the existence of the Universe. They eventually built a small ship and managed to exit the dust cloud. Upon first witnessing the glory and splendor of the Universe, they casually, whimsically, decided to destroy it, remarking, "It'll have to go." The race changed from a peaceful one to the most violent warfaring race of the galaxy.
- itp 9y ago
  I'm skeptical of your theory. Is there reason to believe that humans didn't push boundaries and explore prior to understanding the nature of stars and the vast and varied universe? I suspect that early humans found plenty of mysterious phenomena around them, and would continue to do so even with a perfectly black sky.

Santosh83 9y ago

The existence of stars gives us (humans at least) an idea that we actually live in a vast and varied universe and that I think is crucial psychological motivation to push boundaries and explore. If we lived within a void and believed that our one planet (and its star) were the universe, we would be content to develop only those skill & intelligence needed to survive on the planet. It might stagnate after a point. Of course, even a small telescope would reveal the distant galaxies, but would a hypothetical intelligent species get to that point at all? And even if they could glimpse the distant galaxies, what could conceivably motivate them to develop space travel? Am just wondering aloud. Astronomy was (and is) a pretty fundamental pillar of our scientific development and all that it has brought us. An inky black sky would have interesting effects upon nascent, intelligent species.

Raphmedia 9y ago
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy actually explored the concept. One planet is in a dust cloud. The sky was completely black, and thus the people of that planet led insular lives and never realised the existence of the Universe. They eventually built a small ship and managed to exit the dust cloud. Upon first witnessing the glory and splendor of the Universe, they casually, whimsically, decided to destroy it, remarking, "It'll have to go." The race changed from a peaceful one to the most violent warfaring race of the galaxy.
itp 9y ago
I'm skeptical of your theory. Is there reason to believe that humans didn't push boundaries and explore prior to understanding the nature of stars and the vast and varied universe? I suspect that early humans found plenty of mysterious phenomena around them, and would continue to do so even with a perfectly black sky.