Science, Culture and the Search for Life on Other Worlds
This book explores humanity’s thoughts and ideas about extraterrestrial life, paying close attention to the ways science and culture interact with one another to create a context of imagination and discovery related to life on other worlds. Despite the re
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Science, Culture and the Search for Life on Other Worlds
Science, Culture and the Search for Life on Other Worlds
John W. Traphagan
Science, Culture and the Search for Life on Other Worlds
John W. Traphagan Department of Religious Studies Univ of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
ISBN 978-3-319-41744-8 ISBN 978-3-319-41745-5 DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-41745-5
(eBook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016946427 © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
For my dad Thanks for letting me stay up to watch Star Trek…
Acknowledgements
When one writes a book, there are many people who deserve thanks for their willingness to read chapters, discuss ideas, provide editorial assistance, or give ongoing support—and I’m always afraid I’ll forget someone. Even if you are not mentioned here, please know that I’m deeply grateful to all who have provided ideas that contributed to the writing of this book. The person I must thank first and foremost is my father, Willis Traphagan, who gave me the idea to write this book while we were chatting on the phone one day and who has always been a source of deep and intelligent discussion. My colleagues in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Texas also deserve my thanks and appreciation for the wonderfully collegial environment they create on a daily basis and their patient tolerance for an odd anthropologist with interests in aliens who sits in among them. Finally, of course, I must thank my wife Tomoko, son Julian, and daughter Sarah, who are always a source of strength and love.
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Contents
1
Science and SETI 1.1 Foundations for Thinking about SETI: Some Ideas and Assumptions 1.2 Thinking about Science 1.3 Understanding Science
3 6 13
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