forward. Our mental lives in the future may take place within a computer or on the internet. What we have previously known as Homo sapiens will be replaced by Homo cyberneticus. “As humanism freed us from the chains of superstition, let transhumanism free us from our biological chains” [2.95]. The terms “posthuman” and “postbiological” refer to who we might become if the transhumanists among us achieve their goals.
Might a race of extraterrestrials have already arrived at the posthuman and postbiological stage [2.60]? Templeton Prize winning astrophysicist Martin Rees engages this scenario. “The most likely and durable form of life may be machines whose creators had long ago been usurped or become extinct” [2.72]. In outer space we earthlings may meet our own posthuman future.
To make it more complicated, we can speculate that extraterrestrial post-biological intelligence might not even take an individual form. It might be communal, at least according to Eric Korpela. “I will attempt to dispense with terms such as civilization and species, as such terms presume, to some extent, that ETI will be like us: organized groups of independent biological organisms…. the universe may surprise us. The most common type of ‘civilization’ might consist of a single electronic intelligence” [2.39].
At this point, a subtle shift away from intelligence toward consciousness requires our attention. Philosopher Susan Schneider, a recent holder of the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, acknowledges that “the most advanced alien civilizations will likely be populated by forms of SAI (Super Artificial Intelligence)” [2.76]. What might this imply for the astroethicist? We observe that we have no moral compunction to allow our laptop computer battery to run down and render it nonfunctional. Our electronic computers may appear intelligent; yet they possess no intrinsic value, no dignity. We earthlings would be justified in treating extraterrestrial intelligence without conscious selfhood within a framework of instrumental value.
Table 2.1 Ethics for inferior, peer, and superior ETI.
| Inferior ETI | Peer ETI hostile | Peer ETI peaceful | Sup ETI hostile | Sup ETI peaceful | Sup ETI salvific | |
| Astroethics? | Respect/Care | Dignity | Dignity | Dignity | Dignity | Dignity |
Conscious selfhood adds something well beyond intelligence alone, observes Schneider. “Whether SAI is conscious is key to how we should value postbiological existence…. Consciousness is the philosophical cornerstone here, being a necessary condition on being a self or person, in my view” [2.76]. Unless extraterrestrial intelligence is packaged in a self or a person, we earthlings need not ascribe intrinsic value or treat it with dignity. Before we can determine our astroethical responsibility to an intelligent machine on an exoplanet, we will have to ask it whether it is a self or a person.
A transplanetary community of intelligent persons would warrant an astroethic of responsibility that works out of a vision of a galactic common good (Table 2.1).
2.5 Conclusion
Where have we been? I have proposed an “astroethics of responsibility” founded on a substructure of quandary-responsibility ethics. Atop this foundation, the load-bearing vertical supports included: (1) the moral agent: earthlings as a single planetary community of moral deliberation; (2) the moral norm: the galactic common good; (3) the moral spheres: the solar neighborhood and the Milky Way metropolis; (4) the moral justification: a theological grasp of the common good plus a naturalistic grasp of the Golden Rule. The floor plan designated a conference room for each of thirteen previously formulated ethical issues.
I distinguished two spheres of astrobiological application: the solar neighborhood and the Milky Way metropolis. Within the sphere of the solar neighborhood, ten already articulated quandaries were addressed: (1) planetary protection; (2) intrinsic value of off-Earth biospheres; (3) application of the Precautionary Principle; (4) space debris; (5) satellite surveillance; (6) weaponization of space; (7) scientific versus commercial space exploration; (8) terraforming Mars; (9) colonizing Mars; and (10) anticipating natural space threats [2.66]. Within the sphere of the Milky Way metropolis in which the “galactic commons” becomes the astroethical norm, engagement with intelligent extraterrestrials was analyzed within three categories: (1) ETI less intelligent than Earth’s Homo sapiens; (2) ETI equal in intelligence; and (3) ETI superior in intelligence in both biological and postbiological forms [2.66].
I have argued that we should nominate earthlings in the form of a “single planetary community of moral deliberation” to the office of moral agent. This earth-born community should then look to the sky and allow our planet’s place in the immense and unfathomable universe to affect our shared consciousness. I support the mandate of naturalist Steven Dick regarding the decisive role that cosmic consciousness needs to play in developing an astroethics of responsibility. “A cosmic perspective is surely in order as we expand our views of the space environment, including (and especially) life. Such a view will not happen overnight, but perhaps, humanity will increase its awareness in stages, as we encounter the universe in increasingly intimate ways that will become a basic part of what it means to be human, or post-human” [2.27].
References
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