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Does extraterrestrial life have intrinsic value? An exploration in responsibility ethics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

Ted Peters
Ted Peters*
Affiliation:
Francisco J. Ayala Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Ted Peters, E-mail: TedsTimelyTake.com and tedfpeters@gmail.com
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Abstract

If space explorers discover a biosphere supporting life on an off-Earth body, should they treat that life as possessing intrinsic value? This is an ethical quandary leading to a further question: how do we ground a universal moral norm to which the astroethicist can appeal? This article closely analyses various forms of responsibility ethics and finds them weak because they commit the naturalistic fallacy – that is, they ask nature to define the good. The good, however, is self-defining and not derivable from nature. Even so, a revised responsibility ethic could ground its universal norms on the fact that life and only life can experience and appreciate the good. Conclusion: living creatures possess intrinsic value both on Earth and elsewhere in the Universe.

Keywords

AstroethicsChristopher McKayEmmanuel LevinasHans JonasKnud Løgstrupnaturalistic fallacyquandary ethicsresponsibility ethicsthe good
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 18 , Issue 4 , August 2019 , pp. 304 - 310
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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