jhardest@bbncct (07/27/85)
From: "John f. Hardesty" <jhardest@bbncct.ARPA> TWIMC, Why would we leave this planet? The several possibilities are: 1. Exploration 2. Colonization 3. Escape 4. Invitation 5. Expansionist (Manifest Destiny) 6. Dumb Luck (My favorite) The first , exploration, is the simplest to talk about.. even though we are a violent race (by nature) we have an insatiable curiosity and the desire to know something about what we do not know. The second , colonization, although different would probally follow the exploration part because first we explore.. Colonozation might happen because the ability to procreate , unchecked is unfortuneately our biggest problem (worldwide that is) has forced us to either stay on earth or find greener pastures. As human history has shown most discoverys of new territory (ie the New World ) by early explorers other than Columbus has been because people are looking for a better place to live.. The third escape , could be a group of scientific types or a group counter to the current regime decides that instead of staying and suffering that they would explore the the galaxy searching for a better place ( similar to two but not quite) The fourth reason might be an invitation by a space faring race to become a space faring race by their assistance. The fifth reason might be that one group has conquered the earth (politically)and wants to spread its brand of philosophy across the galaxy by conquering and freeing any down trodden beings .... The last reason that i put down is dumb luck... I think this has the best reason to go.. some one will accidently figure out the way to travel greater distances in shorter time so we could explore the galaxy and by some chance it work and we get out into space and are not wiped out by other space faring races that we are imposing on their territory and find some habitable planet under another G class star that is uninhabited and theat we would bring our technology and start poluting that world as well and keep going and becoming the star slob of the galaxy... yes our race, the human race, will trash your planetary systems with garbage that you have never thought of as pollution but then again maybe we will blow ourselves up.. and a space faring race will laugh at us and declare us a nuclear hot zone. Another reason no space faring race has come here is that maybe we are the Cleveland of star systems i mean maybe we have nothing to offer a space faring race except television.... John Haredsty Jhardest@bbncct
milne@uci-icse (08/04/85)
From: Alastair Milne <milne@uci-icse> > Why would we leave this planet? > The several possibilities are: > 1. Exploration > 2. Colonization > 3. Escape > 4. Invitation > 5. Expansionist (Manifest Destiny) > 6. Dumb Luck (My favorite) It seems to me you overlook that most powerful of inducements: commercial gain. This, and the opportunity to extend national influence, were the primary reasons for the various European empires. Colonies were usually established so that the "mother" country could use the colonies' natural resources (and even establish a trade situation, where the ruling country would refine and manufacture goods to be bought by the colonies). Thereby would a developed country extend and vitalise its economy, while also extending its political power to remote areas around the world. Actually colonising, at least adequately to maintain a reasonable population of colonists, could be a serious problem. In many or most cases, there was only a limited number of people willing to go. There are, of course, great exceptions, like the Puritans driven to North America by religious persecution; or cases where willingness was irrelevant, like the original prisoners sent to Botany Bay, Australia. But think, for instance, of the various schemes tried by the French government to get colonists to go to New France, which promised primarily hard work and murderous winters. "Les Filles du Roi" comes prominently to mind. In most cases it would be the inveterate traveller, or the ardent explorer, who would go. For most people, considerable persuasion would be needed. > As human history has shown most > discoverys of new territory (ie the New World ) by early explorers > other than Columbus has been because people are looking for a better > place to live.. As I think you may see from my previous paragraphs, I really don't agree. While I think you are wise to except Columbus (who was looking for a shorter, less expensive route for the Indian-European spice trade to follow), I think most of the rest of the great explorers should be exempted as well. Either, like Columbus, they had commerce in mind, or, like Magellan and Captain Cook, they wished to discover more about the world. Some, like Ponce de Leon, were after the Fountain of Youth, or the legendary Cathay. Certainly the population of Britain was not waiting for word from Cook of a miraculous land to which they could all move, bag and baggage. A miraculous land with which they could trade for fabulous goods and profits was more likely. Perhaps the need for land to support burgeoning populations will eventually be foremost in the motives for exploring space. But the operation will be fantastically expensive, and having it pay for itself, at least partially, will be a very attractive idea. I'm not being cynical, and I trust that, when there is urgent human need to be met, commercial considerations will be laid aside until they are met. But the fact is that commerce has been the driving force behind much of the most ambitious exploration so far, and it doesn't seem realistic to assume that will change. Alastair Milne