Introduction
Robert H. Goddard, the
creator of the first liquid fueled rocket, once said “It is difficult to say
what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today, and the
reality of tomorrow.” Evidence of this is all around us. We have advanced
immensely as a species, but from the hunter-gathers using tools of stone and
bone to the car-driving, phone-using, plane-flying people of today, one thing
has remained the same. That thing is the need to explore and discover. Mankind
has travelled across the cradle of Earth, crossing its deepest oceans, climbing
its highest peaks, and later flying across the sky. Now humanity turns to
beyond the sky, an untouched frontier awaiting brave adventurers to reach it.
With our neighbor Mars in sight, human footprints may soon be found on the red
planet’s surface. We as a species feel the deep need to go above and beyond, to
seek what we cannot even imagine. However, the reason is subject to opinion.
Greed
It cannot be denied,
unfortunately, that some people are what many people consider greedy, which
might be considered as a need to gain wealth and power with no concern for
others or being truthful. History provides evidence of this all over the globe.
One example would be the theft of Native American land by European settlers
once precious resources were discovered on said land. Another would be when a
weakened China was carved into “Spheres of Influence” by European countries in
the 19th century in order to create exclusive trading rights with
these areas.
The
vast heavens above us represent a frontier untouched by man and filled with
resources. It could be assumed that if we created (or perhaps joined) the
galactic community there would be some people who would try to wantonly take
advantage of these resources, likely resulting in the destruction of several
non-Earth celestial bodies. The moon and Mars could eventually be up for land
grabs, and wealthy entrepreneurs may decide to stake claim to these lands for
the construction of off-planet facilities, all for a substantial price of
course. Entire asteroids or planets could be claimed by mining companies,
stripping them of anything of value. These bodies may be altered so much that
anything that might have been available for discovery: a rare formation,
microscopic fossils, etc. could be wiped away before scientists could find
them. Important objects and research may be stolen and sold to the highest
bidder on the black market. Fake information and artifacts may be planted
off-world in order to gain publicity and fame. These areas are completely
separated from the Earth. The “space police” might not be a thing, so early
colonists would be susceptible if anyone with less than good intentions managed
to slip through the cracks and reach a colony. These concerns are more than
likely for advanced future colonization. The earliest explorers should be
carefully selected from major space agencies like NASA and will likely be only
sent to Mars and possibly some asteroids for very short-lived missions. The
earliest colonists would also be selected in order to ensure their ability to
create a startup colony on another world. However, eventually space travel will
be accessible to all kinds of people, and that includes those looking for fame
and fortune even if it means not playing fair.
I
believe John Locke has some validity in his belief that a newborn’s mind is
blank slate. I do however believe some tendencies are tied in to our genetics,
and thus some traits are more likely to emerge than others. However, we are not
chained by our genes. Our experiences play a key role in who we become as a
person. The things we see and do, the people we meet, the events in the world
have critical roles in shaping us as people. Every person should have an equal
opportunity for advancement, should have access to essential services, and be
able to grow into their best. It is true that in the news we see terrible
things every day. Sometimes people go against what they are taught is good, and
these people might be considered “inherently bad.” I would like to believe that
these people are less common than we think, and that the media focuses on bad
events far more than good ones. I think that this negative focus might actually
make things worse. It might make people lose faith in humanity, and thus care
less about how they act.
A study was conducted
over the Prisoner’s Dilemma, which is where two players have two options, and
the outcome depends on each other’s choices. Computers were set up to show a
situation where two people were able to either cooperate or defect. If both
people cooperate, they both gain $300. If both defect, they both lose $10. If
one person defects but the other tries to cooperate then the person who defects
gains $500 and the person who cooperates loses $100. After several different
scenarios were tested the researchers found that the most effective strategies
were the ones in which the first person would not be the first to defect, were quick
to forgive someone who had earlier deceived them, and were not envious if the
other person won just as much money. The researchers also noticed that
strategies where the opponents continuously tried to deceive each other made
the least amount of money in the long run. These cooperative strategies can be
seen in the animal world with social species helping one another to survive and
shunning uncooperative members. This proves that it is better for people to
cooperate, and we should act based on these good strategies.
I love your topic. And you'll love the works of Carl Sagan and Neil de Grasse Tyson on the mind- and purpose-expanding possibilities of space exploration. Happy exploring!
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