An alternative proposition to make Mars suitable for human habitation is terraforming Mars; to deliberately change it’s environment to provide Earth-like ecosystems and that are suitable for humans.
Terraforming Mars would be a long time in the future, it would take more than 50,000 years to terraform Mars if we started now. Other sources state that “it would be hundreds of years before the thin Martian atmosphere could be transformed into an oxygen-rich cradle for life” (Livescience.com). Turning Mars’s cold atmosphere into a warm one, having a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere with oxygen for humans to breathe, and restoring its habitable state, is possible. And there is no reason to think that Mars is sterile or even hostile to life forms,
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In my opinion, I think that terraforming Mars is ethically acceptable if it is extremely needed. However, I think that humans should explore Mars as a planet to look for a new species of living organisms, and learn more about the planet itself. This, in turn, supports the cause of terraforming as a morally recommended action. On the other hand, environmentalists maintain that learning more about Earth’s ecosystems is more important than spending large sums of money on researching other planets. However, that is ill-considered, because the human exploration of space and mars has a lot to contribute to our environmental education. In general, terraforming is morally recommended. Terraforming another planet would provide valuable classes for the intelligent management of Earth’s biosphere. Environmentalists have for some time maintained the acquisition of this kind of knowledge as an ethical duty. Absent unforeseen objections and regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence of scientific and aesthetic value, terraforming is project humans ought to keep in mind …show more content…
To start with, the advantages of terraforming mars would be that it will make it easier to utilise resources, thus making the planet economically well, which will therefore generate value for the economy. It will also make it more attractive fto colonists and thus increase the population, which will increase the size of the Martian economy and result in a net gain for its society. Furthermore, it may make people who will accept living on Mars happier, which is something that is difficult to put a price on but has a significant value, especially when considered over large timescales. On the other hand, the ethics of terraforming Mars could be against it for the following disadvantages. Terraforming Mars would be expensive, it will take an extremely long time, and it can be potentially dangerous. The low gravity will cause medical issues such as muscular dystrophy and high blood pressure, and the lack of magnetic field will lead to radiation exposure and increase of
Upon weighing both sides of the issue, and considering the severity of ethical implications we can easily see that environment is a priceless asset to our future generations and us. Natural systems possess a value in them that makes them worth preserving, even at the cost of our needs.
Mars would be a challenging place for humans to live because of its dry conditions (lack of water) and cold temperatures. The frequent sandstorms and dust devils whipping across the surface of the planet would also make human existence difficult. Scientists believe that Mars had a think atmosphere in the past. They also think Mars was warmer and may have once contained liquid water.
Analyzing human obligation pertaining to all that is not man made, apart from humans, we discover an assortment of concerns, some of which have been voiced by philosophers such as Tom Regan, Peter Singer and Aldo Leopold. Environmentally ethical ideals hold a broad spectrum of perspectives that, not only attempt to identify a problem, but also focus on how that problem is addressed through determining what is right and wrong.
One pivotal point regarding the debate on environmental ethics and the course humans should take is regarding future generations. How do the actions we take today impact those who inherit this planet after us? Some people argue that we do not inherit this world from our parents, but rather borrow it from our future children. Regarding the text Sustainability and Responsibility to the Future, several different viewpoints are offered regarding both sides of the ethics of environmentalism.
Mars is our next best hope in life on another planet. Because of science mankind can grow and harvest plants in the modified mars soil, make a thick warm atmosphere, and drink no frozen mars water. Mankind can grow and flourish more as a species with this idea of colonizing mars. With more scientific advancements we can colonize mars and we will colonize mars.
What then? In order to survive humans need access to water, some type of food source, oxygen, and an atmosphere that can keep out anything harmful such as radiation. Earth’s atmosphere is made up of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.93% argon, and 0.04% carbon dioxide. Mars’s atmosphere isn’t suitable enough for any of that to exist. Its atmosphere is 100 times thinner than Earth’s and is therefor too thin to support life.
Holbrook, Daniel M. "Environmental Ethics: Lecture Two." Washington State University. Internet. 18 Oct. 2000. Available: www.wsu.edu:8080/holbrodm/EELect2.html.
Starting with Mars being too dangerous. Colonists could be exposed to radiation which can result in cancer, brain damage, tumors, sickness, or death. Secondly, Mars has a lower gravity than Earth which means over time colonists would lose bone mass, have a weaker immune system, and have a weaker heart and body. Lastly, colonists would be in a closed environment for a long periods of time which could lead to mental problems according to NASA and Mars One.
Several economic and technological advances have led mankind down a steep path to environmental disintegration. Environmental ethics is established on humans’ intuitions about what is right and wrong. Our knowledge about what is morally right comes from day-to-day interactions among our species. In today’s globalized society, the effects of our actions are indirect and cumulative.
... The problem with the gravity of Mars is that weightlessness can make you sick. Meaning that because humans are so adapted to the conditions here on Earth, such a drastic change will make them sick. Adaptation will have to occur, meaning that the stations on Mars might have to somehow mimic the conditions of Earth. Works Cited http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming_of_Mars http://www.universetoday.com/9497/magnesium-could-be-a-source-of-fuel-on-mars/. http://www.mars-one.com/faq/health-and-ethics/will-the-astronauts-have-enough-water-food-and-oxygen.
“Unless humanity is suicidal, it should want to preserve, at the minimum, the natural life-support systems and processes required to sustain its own existence” (Daily p.365). I agree with scientist Gretchen Daily that drastic action is needed now to prevent environmental disaster. Immediate action and changes in attitude are not only necessary for survival but are also morally required. In this paper, I will approach the topic of environmental ethics from several related sides. I will discuss why the environment is a morally significant concern, how an environmental ethic can be developed, and what actions such an ethic would require to maintain and protect the environment.
We are supposed to be good stewards of this earth while we are still living on it. God gave us this planet to inhabit and have dominion over everything on and in it. That means that we are responsible for keeping it clean, for protecting it from harm or depletion and we have to preserve and replenish the earth.
Ecological theories and environmental ethics are reciprocally and dynamically linked. Inquiry into this thesis can provide epistemological and ethical insights for ecologists and environmental philosophers. First, for ecologists it clarifies that environmental ethics is not purely a normative corpus that we should adopt under the pressure of an environmental crisis. Ethical conceptions participate in the genesis and evaluation of ecological theories. Second, environmental philosophers have tended to focus on how ecological sciences could inform environmental ethics. I emphasize, in turn, that it is valuable to analyze and to discuss how ethical conceptions can and do inform ecological sciences.
Keith Douglas Warner with David Decosse authors of Thinking Ethically about the Environment explains that, “Environmental ethics apply ethical thinking to the natural world and the relationship between humans and the earth” (Douglas and Decosse 1). Understanding our environment will probably be the most important part of environmental ethics. By understanding the environment, one is putting one selves in the shoes of something that is relevant to nature. Understanding the struggles and helplessness that nature has will hopefully influence one to take better care of our planet. Feeling sympathy is something everyone needs to express towards planet Earth. Humans are the largest factor on deciding if the planet worsen or prosper. Our planet has nothing to do with how polluted it is, this is truly our
On the whole, I think that it is our moral obligation to protect the environment and its inhabitants. We must all contribute in protecting the nature. No matter how small or insignificant our actions may seem, they matter. It only takes 1 person to start a movement that could possibly lead to a major environmental breakthrough. Are you going to be that person?