Liberty on the Space Frontier: Effects on Settlement and Resource Use
This study explores the impact of the extraterrestrial environment on social arrangements and liberty in space settlements. It discusses the challenges related to freedom, oxygen availability, political and economic liberty, and disobedience in space, proposing measures to maximize freedom and minimize oppressive power dynamics. The need for advanced technologies, strong policies, and open systems of organization is emphasized to ensure a sustainable and free society in space.
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Liberty on the Space Frontier - Effects on settlement and resource use Liberty on the Space Frontier - Effects on settlement and resource use Charles Cockell School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh Charles Cockell School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
Hypothesis: The extraterrestrial environment leads to more tyranny-prone social arrangements More Freedom could come in escape from: Government bureaucracies Restricted space Entrenched views Less Freedom likely resulting from: Lack of freely available oxygen Generally extreme conditions Economic isolation Lack of law enforcement in huge territories Restricted information flow
Can we engineer liberty? Freedom Engineering Consider two settlements .
- Freedom engineering a spacesuit The environment of space is lethal Free movement is difficult Space suits and pressurised habitats are required Apart from terraforming, no technology can overcome this Therefore we must implement measures that maximise freedom of movement: Reliable spacesuits Many spacesuits (no shortage) Easy donning and doffing Long duration of excursions possible
Political/economic liberty: the problem of oxygen Oxygen is required on a second to second basis No other physiological requirement has this extreme level of requirement There is NO extraterrestrial environment where this requirement can be met without technological intervention Therefore we need very strong measures to ensure it is not an overwhelming lever of power. Maximise local production Simplify oxygen extraction technology Restrictions on monopoly Open information on oxygen providers Elected boards to oversee it
Disobedience in space Prevention of violent disobedience Open systems of organisation Open discussions through participatory democracy Minimisation of surveillance state
Mitigating effects of violent disobedience Modularity in design Sealable sections and design of structures to take into account sabotage
Methods of disobedience How to disobey in the extraterrestrial environment? Break laws in a way consistent with survival in the extraterrestrial environment After Tony Milligan (Civil Disobedience, 2013). Defining civility is key: Respect for others, recognition that other humans are fellow human Avoidance of acts driven by hatred, Always avoid violence against survival infrastructure and reckless endangerment of others Avoidance of cruelty It may be possible to incorporate non-violent disobedience into law.
