Are Space Technologies Untimely?

TY - CHAP

T1 - Are Space Technologies Untimely?

AU - Milligan, Tony

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - There are widespread fears and suspicions concerning the development and expansion of space technologies, concerns beyond the fears attaching to technology per se. This chapter, provides an overview of these fears and suspicions, classifying them as instances of ‘space skepticism’ (Milligan 2015) and argues that the technologies in question are not untimely with respect to the major challenges facing humanity. Section I will explain that contemporary space skepticism is focused upon negative societal role, rather than the physical possibility of the activities proposed. Such skepticism is a complex, a pool of familiar claims unevenly drawn upon, rather than a single theory. Section II will suggest that contemporary space skepticism tend to integrate with a broader set of doubts and fears about technologies of the Anthropocene. Section III will draw out a tension within the skeptical complex between the idea that concern for space is irrelevant to our societal problems and the idea that it is likely to make such problems worse. Section IV will briefly outline why the publicly dominant forms of space skepticism carry a growing capability for merger with political activism, and why the publicly dominant skepticisms are not necessarily those with the greatest plausibility, but rather those with the strongest motivational force. Finally, section V will set aside popular motivational force and focus instead upon the skepticisms with the greatest plausibility, and will briefly outline why the relevant fears and suspicions (about military tensions and geoengineering) are outweighed by other considerations. The response will not aim to be comprehensive, but indicative of the direction of travel for more detailed critique. It will provide a framing context for a large metaphor about space technologies allowing the Earth to breathe.

AB - There are widespread fears and suspicions concerning the development and expansion of space technologies, concerns beyond the fears attaching to technology per se. This chapter, provides an overview of these fears and suspicions, classifying them as instances of ‘space skepticism’ (Milligan 2015) and argues that the technologies in question are not untimely with respect to the major challenges facing humanity. Section I will explain that contemporary space skepticism is focused upon negative societal role, rather than the physical possibility of the activities proposed. Such skepticism is a complex, a pool of familiar claims unevenly drawn upon, rather than a single theory. Section II will suggest that contemporary space skepticism tend to integrate with a broader set of doubts and fears about technologies of the Anthropocene. Section III will draw out a tension within the skeptical complex between the idea that concern for space is irrelevant to our societal problems and the idea that it is likely to make such problems worse. Section IV will briefly outline why the publicly dominant forms of space skepticism carry a growing capability for merger with political activism, and why the publicly dominant skepticisms are not necessarily those with the greatest plausibility, but rather those with the strongest motivational force. Finally, section V will set aside popular motivational force and focus instead upon the skepticisms with the greatest plausibility, and will briefly outline why the relevant fears and suspicions (about military tensions and geoengineering) are outweighed by other considerations. The response will not aim to be comprehensive, but indicative of the direction of travel for more detailed critique. It will provide a framing context for a large metaphor about space technologies allowing the Earth to breathe.

KW - Technology

KW - Space Skepticism

KW - Timeliness

KW - Geoengineering

KW - Populism

M3 - Chapter

BT - The Ethics Gap in the Engineering of the Future

PB - Emerald

ER -