按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
But by what right； we might ask ourselves； do we inhabit； alter； and conquer other worlds？ If anyone else were living in the Solar System； this would be an important question。 If； though； there's no one else in this system but us； don't we have a right to settle it？
Of course； our exploration and homesteading should be enlightened by a respect for planetary environments and the scientific knowledge they hold。 This is simple prudence。 Of course； exploration and settlement ought to be done equitably and transnationally； by representatives of the entire human species。 Our past colonial history is not encouraging in these regards； but this time we are not motivated by gold or spices or slaves or a zeal to convert the heathen to the One True Faith； as were the European explorers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries。 Indeed； this is one of the chief reasons we're experiencing such intermittent progress； so many fits and starts in the manned space programs of all nations。
Despite all the provincialisms I plained about early in this book； here I find myself an unapologetic human chauvinist。 If there were other life in this solar system； it would be in imminent danger because the humans are ing。 In such a case； I might even be persuaded that safeguarding our species by settling certain other worlds is offset； in part at least； by the danger we would pose to everybody else。 But as nearly as we can tell； so far at least； there is no other life in this system； not one microbe。 There's only Earthlife。
In that case； on behalf of Earthlife； I urge that； with full knowledge of our limitations； we vastly increase our knowledge of the Solar System and then begin to settle other worlds。
These are the missing practical arguments： safeguarding 'the Earth from otherwise inevitable catastrophic impacts and hedging our bets on the many other threats； known and unknown； to the environment that sustains us。 Without these arguments； a pelling case for sending humans to Mars and elsewhere might be lacking。 But with them—and the buttressing arguments involving science； education； perspective； and hope—I think a strong case can be made。 If our long…term survival is at stake； we have a basic responsibility to our species venture to other worlds。
Sailors on a becalmed sea； we sense the stirring of a breeze。
CHAPTER 22 TIPTOEING THROUGH THE MILKY WAY
I swear by the shelters of the stars （a mighty oath； if you but knew it） 。 。 。
—THE QUR'AN； SURA 56 （7TH CENTURY）
The prospect of scaling heaven； of ascending to the sky； of altering other worlds to suit our purposes—no matter how well intentioned we may be—sets the warning flags flying： We remember the human inclination toward overweening pride； we recall our fallibility and misjudgments when presented with powerful new technologies。 We recollect the story of the Tower of Babel； a building 〃whose top may reach unto heaven；〃 and God's fear 。shout our species； that now 〃nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do。〃
We e upon Psalm 15； which stakes a divine claim to other worlds： 〃＇T＇he heavens are the Lord's； but the Earth lath he given to the children of men。〃 Or Plato's retelling of the Greek analogue of Babel—the tale of Otys and Ephialtes。 They were mortals who 〃dared to scale heaven。〃 The gods were faced with a choice。 Should they kill the upstart humans 〃and annihilate ＇their＇ race with thunderbolts〃？ On the one Band； 〃this would be the end of the sacrifices and worship which mien offered〃 the gods and which gods craved。 〃But； on the other hand； the gods could not suffer ＇such＇ insolence to be unrestrained。''
If； in the long term； though； we have no alternative； if our choice really is many worlds or none； we are in need of other sorts of myths of encouragement。 They exist。 Many religions； from Hinduism to Gnostic Christianity to Mormon doctrine； teach that—as impious as it may sound—it is the goal of humans to bee gods。 Or consider a story in the Jewish Talmud left out of the Book of Genesis。 （It is in doubtful accord with the account of the apple； the Tree of Knowledge； the Fall； and the expulsion from Eden。） In the Garden； God tells Eve and Adam that He has intentionally left the Universe unfinished。 It is the responsibility of humans； over countless generations； to participate with God in a 〃glorious〃 experiment—〃 pleting the Creation。〃
The burden of such a responsibility is heavy； especially on so weak and imperfect a species as ours； one with so unhappy a history。 Nothing remotely like 〃pletion〃 can be attempted without vastly more knowledge than we have today。 But perhaps； if our very existence is at stake； we will find ourselves Able to rise to this supreme challenge。
ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT quite use any of the arguments of the preceding chapter； it was Robert Goddard's intuition that 〃the navigation of interplanetary space must be effected to ensure the continuance of the race。〃 Konstantin Tsiolkovsky made a similar judgment：
There are countless planets； like many island Earths 。 。 。 Man occupies one of them。 But why could he not avail himself of others； and of the might of numberless suns？ 。 。 。 When the Sun has exhausted its energy； it would be logical to leave it and look for another； newly kindled； star still in its prime。
This might be done earlier； he suggested； long before the Sun dies； 〃by adventurous souls seeking fresh worlds to conquer。〃
But as I rethink this whole argument； I'm troubled。 Is it too much Buck Rogers？ Does it demand an absurd confidence in future technology？ Does it ignore my own admonitions about human fallibility？ Surely in the short term it's biased against technologically less…developed nations。 Are there no practical alternatives that avoid these pitfalls？
All our self…inflicted environmental problems； all our weapons of mass destruction are products of science and technology。 So； you might say； let's just back off from science and technology。 Let's admit that these tools are simply too hot to handle。 Let's create a simpler society； in which no matter how careless or short…sighted we are； we're incapable of altering the environment on a global or even on a regional scale。 Let's throttle back to a minimal； agriculturally intensive technology； with stringent controls on new knowledge。 An authoritarian theocracy is a tried…and…true way to enforce the controls。
Such a world culture is unstable； though； in the long run if not the short—because of the speed of technological advance。 Human propensities for self…betterment； envy； and petition will always be throbbing subsurface； opportunities for short…term； local advantage will sooner or later be seized。 Unless there are severe constraints on thought and action； in a flash we'll be back to where we are today。 So controlled a society must grant great powers to the elite that does the controlling； inviting flagrant abuse and eventual rebellion。 It's very hard—once we've seen the riches； conveniences； and lifesaving medicines that technology offers—to squelch human inventiveness and acquisitiveness。 And while such a devolution of the global civilization； were it possible； might conceivably address the problem of self…