Outline For The Ethicality Of Space Exploration

Outline for Moral Issue Paper

Space Exploration: Dictionary Definition: “Ongoing discovery and exploration of celestial structures in outer space by means of continuously evolving and growing space technology.”

Thesis: Space exploration is something that is becoming more and more relevant in our world today. It potentially provides us with an opportunity to find more efficient and eco-friendly fuel sources, could save our lives from being able to predict different trajectories from space debris, and it helps us continue to use our human “duty” of exploration.

Exposition: Defining space exploration from above and using some outside sources as well as the Kant and Mill reading for arguments and objections.

Arguments for Space Exploration

1.)

2.) Space exploration also allows us to protect ourselves from different space debris such as asteroids. It does so by giving us the ability to watch their patterns of travel and predict where they will go next (Utilitarianism could see this as serving the greater good).

3.) It helps us continue with our human desire of curiosity and exploration. However, it does so on a much larger scale. (I want to try and relate Kant’s duty idea to this)

Objections Against Space Exploration

1.) Space exploration is extremely expensive (I am going to try and find actual numbers to put into the paper to put this idea into perspective) and we should be using our money for other things instead.

2.) Space exploration and the exploration of new planets could potentially “contaminate” other species and worlds (Greenberg CITATION)

Conclusion Restate thesis and wrap up all of the ideas in the paper.