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  • Book
  • © 2015

The Meaning of Liberty Beyond Earth

  • Takes the discussion of liberty into the extraterrestrial environment
  • Presents an interdisciplinary approach to the topic
  • Serves an interdisciplinary readership of space policy makers, space engineers and scientists, social scientists
  • Discusses the shifting meaning of freedom, liberty and democracy in environments beyond Earth
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Space and Society (SPSO)

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Table of contents (16 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-viii
  2. The Philosophical Basis of Extraterrestrial Liberty

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 11-11
    2. Fairness as a Moral Grounding for Space Policy

      • James S. J. Schwartz
      Pages 69-89
    3. Space: John Locke’s Ultimate Triumph

      • Paul Rosenberg
      Pages 91-101
    4. Elsewhere, Liberty

      • Charles Peterson
      Pages 117-123
  3. Back Matter

    Pages 267-272

About this book

The purpose of this book is to initiate a new discussion on liberty focusing on the infinite realms of space. The discussion of the nature of liberty and what it means for a human to be free has occupied the minds of thinkers since the Enlightenment. However, without exception, every one of these discussions has focused on the character of liberty on the Earth. The emergence of human space exploration programs in the last 40-50 years raise a fundamental and new question: what will be the future of liberty in space? This book takes the discussion of liberty into the extraterrestrial environment. In this book, new questions will be addressed such as: Can a person be free when the oxygen the individual breathes is the result of a manufacturing process controlled by someone else? Will the interdependence required to survive in the extremities of the extraterrestrial environment destroy individualism? What are the obligations of the individual to the extraterrestrial state? How can we talk of extraterrestrial liberty when everyone is dependent on survival systems?

Reviews

“It demonstrates the value of the humanities and social science in the exercise of science and engineering. … This is a book that engineering and science students should read along with their subject matter texts. It will also be of value to philosophy and political science students, and others who want to inform their space policymaking capacity with some aspects of science. … In all, The Meaning of Liberty Beyond Earth is a thought-provoking book worth reading.” (Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz, Quest, Vol. 23 (1), 2016)

“This book transports us to the pioneering phase of a new branch of our subject ─ astrosociology. And what an engaging, stimulating and thought-provoking book it is.” (David W. Hughes, The Observatory, Vol. 135 (1246), June, 2015)

Editors and Affiliations

  • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Charles S. Cockell

About the editor

Charles Cockell is Professor of Astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh. His research interests are focused on microbial life in extreme environments. Prof. Cockell is co-author / editor of 8 books and a large number of research articles.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access