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| Stephen Hawking: Abandon the Earth Posted by Sam Erica on 8/10, 10:16am | ||
| Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has some advice for the people of Earth - it's time to get off. "The planet will be fine and heal; it is man who will vanish," he wrote. "... If we develop the technology for space travel, we will do the same to that environment, until we learn not to. Man will become extinct due to his greed." Most readers in the general public who agree with Hawking will propose that the government should institute such a program. Objectivists will question both the reason given for the program and that the government should do it instead of private enterprise. As Hawking has phrased his proposal, it's a condemnation of man qua man. Man is evil and greedy and must atone for his sins. Objectivists will say that this kind of space exploration would be noble in itself and would exemplify how man has come to dominate all other forms of life and prosper. Collectivists would try to justify government involvement by saying that there would be no profit to be gained by investors during their lifetime, as such a mission would take many, many decades to perfect the technology of deep space exploration. I would counter by proposing that individual subscribers be allowed to have their DNA transported to the new colony(ies) to populate them. Obviously, the DNA of all the subscribers couldn't be used but it could be drawn by lot, as required. The payload of DNA would be very small and need not be a hindrance in that regard. Think of how many people would subscribe at, say, $1,000 a pop. I would. Sam WIJG? | ||
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