tiny little bluewhite rock
If you took a poll asking what people think should be Mankind's Primary Goal, what would they say? End hunger and disease? World Peace? Save mother earth? All worthy aims (probably, maybe). But before all that, we could be exploring the universe with the aim of establishing human life and society extra-terrestrially. I think that goal is so obviously paramount (if presumptuous), at least half of us with appropriate skill sets (whatever they are) should be working mainly towards that objective.
I don't expect half of us to drop everything and get right to work trying to live on Mars. There would be many positives to doing just that, however. The scientific effort required to make life on Venus happen would be enormous, but that effort would yield numerous ancillary benefits, including some progress towards each of the other goals above. The financial costs (capital/labor/time) would be huge, but is not significantly increasing the survival probability of mankind worth at least that expense?
I’m cynical enough to know how unreal this prospect is. The body politic has spent time lately hashing out the far-flung future of social security. How many elections will there be between now and the projected date of demise of the SS fund? We’re discussing insurance for subsidized retirement finances TWO generations away...I haven’t heard anyone even hint at extra-terrestrial human habitats …smile. Should the potential eventual demise of a nation’s fiscal accounting trick be considered as/more important than ANY of the other goals listed above, primary or otherwise?
heck, I’d be pleased if the Primary goal became a goal on any level at all.
I don't expect half of us to drop everything and get right to work trying to live on Mars. There would be many positives to doing just that, however. The scientific effort required to make life on Venus happen would be enormous, but that effort would yield numerous ancillary benefits, including some progress towards each of the other goals above. The financial costs (capital/labor/time) would be huge, but is not significantly increasing the survival probability of mankind worth at least that expense?
I’m cynical enough to know how unreal this prospect is. The body politic has spent time lately hashing out the far-flung future of social security. How many elections will there be between now and the projected date of demise of the SS fund? We’re discussing insurance for subsidized retirement finances TWO generations away...I haven’t heard anyone even hint at extra-terrestrial human habitats …smile. Should the potential eventual demise of a nation’s fiscal accounting trick be considered as/more important than ANY of the other goals listed above, primary or otherwise?
heck, I’d be pleased if the Primary goal became a goal on any level at all.