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The continued existence of humanity and life in general is a good in itself. Besides that, why would you think that space exploration and colonization would red

The continued existence of humanity and life in general is a good in itself. Besides that, why would you think that space exploration and colonization would reduce living standards?

CuriouslyC 4y ago
The continued existence of humanity is only a good to the degree that it brings good. The continued existence of a species of psychic vampires that draw sustenance from causing pain to other conscious beings would very much not be a good in itself, and with habit and environment destruction and worker subjugation/disenfranchisement our species causes in the name of unfettered capitalism we're not so far off from that. Big goals take sacrifice and hard work. Any cosmic human diaspora would require sacrificing earthly abundance and leisure, and the colonists wouldn't be having a good time either, so the main beneficiaries would be the billionaires and politicians that could wave their dicks around about how they're responsible for sending man to the stars.
- towaway15463 4y ago
  Plenty of people choose sacrifice, hard work and discomfort because they find more fulfillment in it than idle leisure. Those who wish to remain behind can stay put, just don’t stand in the way.
  - CuriouslyC 4y ago
    Except that moonshots on the level of stellar diaspora require that sort of sacrifice from an entire society. If the 5% of the population that actually gave a shit about the idea of humans in the stars could do it by themselves I'd say go for it, but if it's going to happen they'll have to con people who will get nothing out of it into going along, which is obviously problematic.
    - towaway15463 4y ago
      It may only be 5% of people that care about space exploration by itself but a lot more will care if we’re lucky enough to only get a house sized impactor as a warning shot. At that size there’s a hope that there would only be severe property damage and no loss of life. Chelyabinsk should have been that wake up call but most people don’t think about it deeply enough to realize how much worse it can be. If we’re unlucky then the first big impact we experience will be our last.

The continued existence of humanity and life in general is a good in itself. Besides that, why would you think that space exploration and colonization would reduce living standards?

CuriouslyC 4y ago

The continued existence of humanity is only a good to the degree that it brings good. The continued existence of a species of psychic vampires that draw sustenance from causing pain to other conscious beings would very much not be a good in itself, and with habit and environment destruction and worker subjugation/disenfranchisement our species causes in the name of unfettered capitalism we're not so far off from that. Big goals take sacrifice and hard work. Any cosmic human diaspora would require sacrificing earthly abundance and leisure, and the colonists wouldn't be having a good time either, so the main beneficiaries would be the billionaires and politicians that could wave their dicks around about how they're responsible for sending man to the stars.

towaway15463 4y ago
Plenty of people choose sacrifice, hard work and discomfort because they find more fulfillment in it than idle leisure. Those who wish to remain behind can stay put, just don’t stand in the way.
- CuriouslyC 4y ago
  Except that moonshots on the level of stellar diaspora require that sort of sacrifice from an entire society. If the 5% of the population that actually gave a shit about the idea of humans in the stars could do it by themselves I'd say go for it, but if it's going to happen they'll have to con people who will get nothing out of it into going along, which is obviously problematic.
  - towaway15463 4y ago
    It may only be 5% of people that care about space exploration by itself but a lot more will care if we’re lucky enough to only get a house sized impactor as a warning shot. At that size there’s a hope that there would only be severe property damage and no loss of life. Chelyabinsk should have been that wake up call but most people don’t think about it deeply enough to realize how much worse it can be. If we’re unlucky then the first big impact we experience will be our last.