The Imperative to Develop an Ethically-Informed METI Analysis. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Haramia, Chelsea; DeMarines, Julia
• Is Part Of: Theology and science. Volume 17:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 38
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: METI -- space ethics -- active SETI -- protocols -- risk-analysis -- responsibility -- consensus; Religion and science -- Periodicals; Theology -- Periodicals; 261.55
• DOI: 10.1080/14746700.2019.1557800
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-6700

Abstract

ABSTRACT: There is currently a divide among astrobiologists on the question of whether to transmit intentional, directed messages into space. This debate raises several questions pertaining to space ethics, and it demands rigorous ethical analysis before active transmission occurs. Here we address ethical issues of responsibility, consensus, shared values, messaging content, communicative burden, and proscriptions on premature messaging. It is our hope that these deliberative contributions highlight the need for sustained analyses to precede the active messaging otherwise taking place. We maintain that these and other deliberations must occur in order that successful METI policies and protocols may be developed.