International Journal of Astrobiology 17 (1): 51–56 (2018) doi:10.1017/S1473550417000064 © Cambridge University Press 2017
Astrobioethics Octavio A. Chon-Torres* Programa de Estudios Generales, Universidad de Lima, Javier Prado Este Cuadra 46 S/N, Distrito de Lima 15023, Lima, Peru e-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Astrobiology is a discipline that is expanding its field of investigation not only in the natural sciences, but also in the social sciences. It is for this reason that the ethical aspects are progressively emphasized leading to a point where the whole field requires a specific handling. The appellation ‘astrobioethics’ is now considered as not only relevant, but also a true issue for the future of Astrobiology. Astrobioethics is the subsection within astrobiology that is accountable for studying the moral implications of, for example, bringing humans to Mars, the Planetary Protection Policy, the social responsibility of the astrobiologist to society, etc. It is in this way that the present article outlines a path for astrobioethics, as being a fertile field of study and an opportunity to trade scientific knowledge in a transdisciplinary way. Received 19 January 2017, accepted 5 February 2017, first published online 10 April 2017
Key words: astrobioethics, astrobiology, ethics, philosophy.
As you explore communication in astrobiology don’t forget the humanities: exploring space is not only a scientific problem Sanjoy Som, 3rd International Congress of Astrobiology in Manizales, Colombia
Astrobioethics is an interdisciplinary field of astrobiology and ethics; it studies the ethical implications of astrobiological research. However, astrobioethics must have transdisciplinary practices in order to enrich itself and propose a broader judgement according to the context where it is applied. As an emergent discipline it is necessary to establish its philosophical foundations, so that it can rely on a theoretical framework for its awareness as a field of knowledge. Astrobioethics presents itself as a necessity for astrobiology, which is having new and more advances on many different scientific grounds, for that reason it is essential to lay a series of fundamental questions that allow us to foresee with better clarity the current necessities this new discipline may propose. On the international agenda, astrobioethics is gradually increasing, for example, the ‘International Working Group on Astrobioethics’ was founded on 3 January 2016 within the framework of the activities of the International Association for Geoethics (International Group on Astrobioethics 2016), thus being the first time that the astrobioethic subject is treated through an academic work group. On the other hand, within the 35th International Geological Congress celebrated in South Africa, the relevance for astrobiology of including ethics, as