Transcript Kuchner.SETIpanel

How to Recognize Considerate ET
Marc Kuchner
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
thanks to K. Denning, L. Mix, T. Bania,
W. Sullivan, D. Brin, S. Shostak, G. Consolmagno
ethical scale
humans & ETI
Stephen
Hawking’s
ETI
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Marc Kuchner
Ozma 50 workshop
ethical scale
An alternative
to Hawking.
good ETI
humans
bad ETI
Marc Kuchner
Ozma 50 workshop
Whom do you consider when you make ethical decisions?
considerate
speciesist
racist
family-ist
selfish
e.g. Peter Singer
Practical Ethics
Marc Kuchner
Ozma 50 workshop
ethical scale
An alternative
to Hawking.
altruistic
good ETI
considerate
humans
speciesist
racist
bad ETI
caring for one’s family
selfish
Marc Kuchner
Ozma 50 workshop
r-selection: evolution with unlimited resources
Large numbers of offspring, most die young!
Rats, Insects.
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
k-selection: evolution with limited resources.
Small numbers of offspring, care for one’s young.
Whales, elephants.
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Marc Kuchner
Ozma 50 workshop
ethical scale
An alternative
to Hawking.
altruistic
good ETI
considerate
humans
speciesist
racist
bad ETI
caring for one’s family
selfish
k-selection
Marc Kuchner
Ozma 50 workshop
Green Beard Genes*
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Natural selection favors genes whose
phenotypes promote their replication (e.g.
Richard Dawkins: The Selfish Gene).
E.g. gene in Fireant queens
Look for ETI that are similar to us, so they
might interpret us as being genetically similar
to themselves.
(*thanks to Lucas, ~last night,s cocktail party)
Marc Kuchner
Ozma 50 workshop
ethical scale
An alternative
to Hawking.
altruistic
good ETI
considerate
humans
speciesist
racist
bad ETI
caring for one’s family
selfish
phenotype
resemblance
k-selection
Marc Kuchner
Ozma 50 workshop
ethical scale
altruistic
good ETI
An alternative
to Hawking.
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
considerate
humans
speciesist
racist
bad ETI
caring for one’s family
selfish
courtship
behavior
phenotype
resemblance
k-selection
Marc Kuchner
Ozma 50 workshop
Considerate ETI will:
1) send a probe first---not their own kind
2) display some phenotypic resemblance to humans
3) engage in courtship behaviours. E.g. send gifts,
be willing to take it slow.
for safety, we need to see all three
If you shout in the jungle you might meet at tiger.
But if you shout in the city, you might hail a cab.
Let’s take the time to find out where we are.
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Marc Kuchner
Ozma 50 workshop