estec, 9 march 2005division of ethics of science and technology contribution to european exploration...
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ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Contribution to the development of a
European Space Exploration Strategy
First roundtable discussionESTEC, 9 March 2005
Division of Ethics of Science and TechnologyDivision of Ethics of Science and Technology
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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UNESCO and Space
• Ethics of Outer Space Programme• Space Education Programme• Disaster Management System
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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UNESCO and Ethics
• Bioethics • Environmental ethics• Science ethics• Ethics of outer space
• Ethics Education programme
• Global Ethics Observatory
• Ethics Around the World
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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UNESCO and Ethics:Bioethics
• International Bioethics Committee, Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee, Interagency Committee on Bioethics
• Universal Declaration on Human Genome and Human Rights – 1997
• International Declaration on Human Genetic data – 2003 • Declaration on universal norms in Bioethics – 2005?
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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UNESCO and Ethics: Environmental ethics
• World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST)
• Recommendations on Fresh Water and Energy (2001)
• Towards a Declaration on ethical principles for a sustainable use of the environment (2009)
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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UNESCO and Ethics: Science Ethics
• COMEST• Towards a code of ethics for scientists?
(2009)– The World Conference for Science – 1999 – The concern on terrorism – 2001– Feasibility study – 2007?
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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UNESCO and Ethics:Ethics of Outer Space
• Recommendations of COMEST and Pompidou report (1999/2001)
• Development of ethics of outer space both as a scientific discipline and civic discourse
• Involvement of the space and academic communities• Emphasis on awareness-raising and education both
within and outside the space community• Non feasiblity of an international instrument
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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UNESCO and ESA
• ESA initiated the work of COMEST on space and co-published the Report « The ethics of space policy » (1999)
• Symposium on Astronauts – 25 October 2004• Ethical Working Group on Planetary Protection
and Exobiology – Since May 2004
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Ethical Issues about Space Exploration
• A subject of public debate
• A pioneering mind?• What for?• The exploitation
scenario• Extraterrestrial
ecologism
• Extraterrestrial bioethics
• Intellectual property• For whom?• Do astronauts have a
life?• A new human habitat?
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Ethics of Space Exploration: for a Public Debate
• Space exploration is of concern to everyone because of:– Its costs– Its risks– Its benefits– Its phantasy
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Ethics of Space exploration:A pioneering mind?
• The human adventure: from Africa to the Moon
• Limits of this notion– Are great discoveries such a glorious example?– Emptiness of space– Limits of the earth
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Ethics of Space Exploration:To What Purpose?
• The glorification of the pionneering mind does not seem sufficient…
• … But is the scientific research the only motive and interest?– The American example allows to question this view– The Keynesian effect
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Ethics of Space Exploration: the Exploitation Scenario
• The legal quarrel about exploitation• What would be the economic rationale?
– Natural resources– Some room– Ways to exploit celestial bodies: for production,
tourism, scientific research?– Using local life?
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Ethics of Space Exploration:Extraterrestrial Ecologism
• How should we treat ET life?• Use of environmental ethics principles:
– Precautionary principle– Respect for life– Burden of proof principle
• The idea of a moratorium and the possibility of an isolation
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Ethics of Space Exploration:Extraterrestrial Bioethics
• Genetic engineering in microgravity will raise specific issues
• What about possible genetic ET material? (Jurassic Park meets E.T.!)
• Genetic selection of astronauts
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Ethics of Space Exploration:Intellectual Property
• Innovation in outer space: foreseeable issues
• Scientific discoveries on celestial bodies – existing guidelines may not be sufficient
• The issue does not concern civil servants but…
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Ethics of Space Exploration:for whom?
• The benefit of all mankind… – Star Trek vs. Star Wars
• Are all space travellers really envoys of mankind?
• If space travellers have rights, things get more complicated – IP, misbehaviors, cultural differences
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Ethics of Space Exploration:Do Astronauts have a Life?
• The selection process• Privacy• Isolation• Communication• Comfort• Risk
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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The Ethics of Space Exploration:A New Human Habitat?
• Distant (?) prospect of colonization:– Which rules do apply?– When do you stop being a terrestrial? (see Asimov)– Ethical issue of terraforming
• Very close effects of this distant prospect– Limits of our planet and phantasy of emigration– Does space exploration divert us?
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Some Ideas of Recommendations
• The participative approach– Reinforce information program and public debate
• Clarify the motives and the interests– Undertake economical studies– Be careful with the « pionneer » rhetoric
• Give guarantees to space travellers• .. And to ETs• A way to solve terrestrial problems
ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
Contribution to European Exploration Strategy
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Thank you
Division of Ethics of Science and Technology
http://www.unesco.org/ethics