First contact: Copernican moment or nine days' wonder?

Charles T. Rubin

doi:10.1117/12.243432

24 June 1996 First contact: Copernican moment or nine days' wonder?

Charles T. Rubin

Proceedings Volume 2704, The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in the Optical Spectrum II; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.243432
Event: Photonics West '96, 1996, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

The vast uncertainties of SETI require caution in discussing the impact of discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence. Despite the awareness of some SETI scientists that such scenarios can easily reflect wishful thinking, popular discussions of the topic are flawed by failure to present speculations regarding impact that are consistent with basic assumptions that make SETI plausible in the first place. A more self-conscious attempt to deal directly with the ethical issues raised by the impact question would aid in creating more rigorous efforts.

Citation Download Citation

Charles T. Rubin "First contact: Copernican moment or nine days' wonder?", Proc. SPIE 2704, The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in the Optical Spectrum II, (24 June 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.243432

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available