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Arguments Against Space Colonization

Decent Essays

The argument presented, while interesting, makes several errors in reasoning that undermine its effectiveness. For this argument to be considered valid, it must state all of its premises more clearly. Further, it recommends a course of action based upon a chain of cause and effect, which is not internally supported. Last, it contains self-contradictory reasoning, which needs to be untangled before the argument will be truly convincing.

The most striking feature of this argument is its sweeping assumptions. The author of the argument attempts to argue that funding for space colonization must be increased, because of the possibility of a cataclysmic event wiping out all life on Earth. However, the author does not indicate why the continued survival of life in the general sense—or, more to the point, a relatively small group of individuals—would be important to the general masses presently on Earth, if life on this planet were to be wiped out. The author assumes that the need …show more content…

Supposing it is granted that Earth-bound life, particularly human life, needs to be spread to other planets; it does not follow that it is within our power to colonize other worlds, nor that increased funding for space exploration and colonization would let us achieve that goal. It is possible that current funding is sufficient; it is also possible that no amount of money would be enough to achieve an impossible goal. The funding could well be money wasted chasing a worthwhile cause, and without the author mentioning specific uses for the money, we cannot say otherwise. If the premise is that we need to preserve some form of terrestrial life in general, then it does not follow that humanity needs to establish a foothold on other worlds. It could easily be concluded that we should ensure some hardy form of terrestrial life, such as bacteria, be sent

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