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The question is wrong. It’s not about going to Mars, it’s about having a long term plan for space colonization and exploration. The best time to start this was

by nis0s 2y ago

The question is wrong. It’s not about going to Mars, it’s about having a long term plan for space colonization and exploration. The best time to start this was two decades ago, the next best time is now. It would make sense to pilot habitable zones on the Moon first, and send autonomous systems to Mars, or remotely build habitats. We can’t imagine going beyond Mars without faster travel.

hedayet 2y ago
> …it’s about having a long-term plan for space colonization and exploration. I see your point, and I'd appreciate it even more if you could elaborate further. If you could point me to some resources (articles, documentaries, books) that could excite me in a similar way, I’d love that. My understanding of this topic is limited—I can see the value in mining remote planets or other astronomical bodies for energy, precious metals, etc., but I’m not sure I fully grasp the hype around Musk’s vision of "occupying Mars." This could be because I haven’t been following him closely enough.
- nis0s 2y ago
  I think this vision is more ancient, but I don’t want to influence anyone to think one way or another. I think this blog did a good job of trying to find different perspectives: https://dailynous.com/2021/02/22/philosophers-on-space-exploration/ https://dailynous.com/2021/02/22/philosophers-on-space-explo... There are others who believe space colonization and exploration are unethical pursuits: https://vce.usc.edu/volume-7-issue-3/space-colonization-and-why-humanity-is-better-off-not-pursuing-it/ https://vce.usc.edu/volume-7-issue-3/space-colonization-and-... Here is a recent text, but I’ve not read it: https://www.routledge.com/The-Philosophy-of-Outer-Space-Explorations-Controversies-Speculations/Garasic-DiPaola/p/book/9781032448893 https://www.routledge.com/The-Philosophy-of-Outer-Space-Expl... In all such discourse, there is a danger of being convinced by poorly-reasoned and incomplete arguments, but if one adheres to principles of parrhesia, the conversation becomes more manageable.

by nis0s 2y ago

hedayet 2y ago

> …it’s about having a long-term plan for space colonization and exploration. I see your point, and I'd appreciate it even more if you could elaborate further. If you could point me to some resources (articles, documentaries, books) that could excite me in a similar way, I’d love that. My understanding of this topic is limited—I can see the value in mining remote planets or other astronomical bodies for energy, precious metals, etc., but I’m not sure I fully grasp the hype around Musk’s vision of "occupying Mars." This could be because I haven’t been following him closely enough.

nis0s 2y ago
I think this vision is more ancient, but I don’t want to influence anyone to think one way or another. I think this blog did a good job of trying to find different perspectives: https://dailynous.com/2021/02/22/philosophers-on-space-exploration/ https://dailynous.com/2021/02/22/philosophers-on-space-explo... There are others who believe space colonization and exploration are unethical pursuits: https://vce.usc.edu/volume-7-issue-3/space-colonization-and-why-humanity-is-better-off-not-pursuing-it/ https://vce.usc.edu/volume-7-issue-3/space-colonization-and-... Here is a recent text, but I’ve not read it: https://www.routledge.com/The-Philosophy-of-Outer-Space-Explorations-Controversies-Speculations/Garasic-DiPaola/p/book/9781032448893 https://www.routledge.com/The-Philosophy-of-Outer-Space-Expl... In all such discourse, there is a danger of being convinced by poorly-reasoned and incomplete arguments, but if one adheres to principles of parrhesia, the conversation becomes more manageable.