Is mankind alone in the universe? Will we ever encounter intelligent life beyond Earth? These questions have been asked for centuries. Recent advances in the fields of astrophysics, astronomy and astrobiology make it more likely than ever before, that Earth may not be the only inhabited planet, and that humanity may not the only intelligent species in the universe.
What would be the consequences of contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence? This question is at the heart of the emerging discipline of exosociology. According to the authors, first contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence poses enormous risks for humanity. These risks come not only from extraterrestrials, but above all from ourselves. We should be prepared.
Michael Schetsche and Andreas Anton's comprehensive introduction to exosociology was first published in German in 2019. The book has been widely acclaimed in Germany and internationally. It is now available in English for the first time.
Author(s): Andreas Anton, Michael Schetsche
Publisher: Springer VS
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 286
City: Wiesbaden
Foreword by John Elliott
Foreword to the German Edition by Dieter B. Herrmann (1939–2021)
Acknowledgements
Contents
About the Authors
1 The Aliens at the Gates of Sociology
1.1 The Idea of an ‘Exosociology'
1.2 Tasks and Aims of Exosociology
1.3 The Two Pillars of Exosociology
1.3.1 Exosociology as a Temporary Subfield of Futurology
1.3.2 Exosociology as Part of a Sociology of Strangeness
1.4 Summary: Aims of Exosociology
References
2 Thinking About Aliens
2.1 Aliens in Modern Times
2.2 Locke and Kant on Extraterrestrials
2.3 Aliens in Modern Science Fiction
2.4 In the Hall of Mirrors
References
3 The Earth in Space
3.1 The Star Formation Rate
3.2 How Many Planets Are There in the Milky Way?
3.3 Planets in the Habitable Zone
3.4 The Origin of Life
3.5 How Does Mind Come into the World?
3.6 The Communication Readiness of the Extraterrestrials
3.7 The Lifespan of Extraterrestrial Civilizations
3.8 Where Are They?
References
4 SETI—History, Methods and Presuppositions of the Scientific Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligences
4.1 SETI—An Idea and Its History
4.2 The Wow Signal
4.3 Anthropocentric Presuppositions
4.4 General Communication and Understanding Problems
4.5 A Brief Conclusion from a Sociological Perspective
References
5 SETA—The Search for Extraterrestrial Artifacts
5.1 Alien Monoliths
5.2 SETA and the Fermi Paradox
5.3 Conclusions
References
6 Calls in the Dark Forest—Risky Communication Attempts
6.1 Messages to Extraterrestrials
6.2 Criticism and Potential Risks
References
7 Methodological Considerations for the Scenario Analysis of First Contact
7.1 The Method of Scenario Analysis
7.2 Parameters of the Scenario Analysis of the First Contact
7.3 Prognostic Strategies and Problem Situations
References
8 Consequences of First Contact—A Scenario Analysis
8.1 The Signal Scenario
8.1.1 General Parameters
8.1.2 Projected Impacts
8.1.3 Exemplary Narration
8.1.4 Summary Assessment of the Scenario
8.2 The Artifact Scenario
8.2.1 General Parameters
8.2.2 Projected Impacts
8.2.3 Exemplary Narration
8.2.4 Summary Assessment of the Scenario
8.3 The Encounter Scenario
8.3.1 General Parameters
8.3.2 Projected Impacts
8.3.3 Exemplary Narration
8.3.4 Summary Assessment of the Scenario
8.4 Comparison of Contact Scenarios
8.5 Excursus: The Failed First Contact
8.5.1 Introduction: The Logic of Failure
8.5.2 The Necrology Scenario—Exemplary Narration
8.5.3 Conclusion
References
9 The Cultural Preparation for the First Contact
9.1 General Problems and Deficits
9.2 Some Suggestions from the Scientific Debate
9.3 Conceivable Strategies for Minimising the Negative Effects of First Contact
9.4 Conclusion: Guiding Principles for Preparing for the Initial Contact
References
10 Proto-Sociology of Extraterrestrial Civilizations
10.1 Postbiological Secondary Civilizations
10.2 Biological Primary Civilizations
10.3 Peculiarities of Technological Civilizations
10.4 Special Case of Hybrid Civilizations
References
11 Hot Potato in Scientific Alien Research
11.1 Ancient Aliens Hypothesis
11.2 The UFO Phenomenon
11.3 Alien Abductions
11.4 Exosociological Conclusions
References
12 Outlook
12.1 Looking Back
12.2 Looking Ahead
12.3 The (Sociological) View Upwards
References
Bibliography
