Extraterrestrial liberty – What is freedom beyond the Earth?

A joint UK Centre for Astrobiology/British Interplanetary Society two-day meeting to explore the development of freedom in the extreme conditions of outer space.

Deadline for registration: May 30th
Register at: http://www.bis-space.com/2012/10/17/7183/extraterrestrial-liberty-what-is-freedom-beyond-the-earth

One of the most compelling questions in political philosophy, and one that has been intensely debated by scientists and political philosophers since the early years of the Enlightenment (although it has its roots in the democracy of ancient Athens) is: ‘What is liberty?’

This symposium seeks to understand how the unique conditions of space will influence the future of freedom. These questions constitute an important philosophical strand of astrobiology linked to how human societies adapt to the extreme conditions of outer space.

Topics to be addressed include: Liberty on planetary surfaces and in spaceships, the rule of law in space, the nature of democracy in space, land ownership and freedom in space, the nature of tyranny in space, the independence of space settlements and extraterrestrial constitutions.

The workshop is open to anyone interested in the social implications of space exploration and settlement. It is open to scientists, political philosophers, policy makers and others.

Speakers to include:

John Cain, GeoFind Consultancy, ‘Astronaut Health: Planetary Exploration and the Limitations on Freedom’

Rick Wylie, University of Central Lancashire: ‘Something Wonderful is Going to Happen:  Policy in the Vacuum of Space’

Stuart Armstrong, University of Oxford, Oxford, ‘Outrunning the Law: the Ease of Intergalactic Colonisation Poses Unique Challenges for Star-spanning Civilizations’

David Baker, Spaceflight: 'The Nature of Liberty, Freedom and Democracy and its definition for Extraterrestrial Societies'

Tony Milligan, University of Aberdeen: ‘Fear of Freedom – the Legacy of Arendt and Ballard’s Space Skepticism’

Charles Cockell, University of Edinburgh: ‘Freedom in a Box: Paradoxes in the Structure of Extraterrestrial Liberty’

Paul Rosenberg, The Free-Man’s Perspective, USA: ‘Space: John Locke’s Ultimate Triumph’

Stephen Baxter, Science Fiction Writer: ‘The Cold Equations: Extraterrestrial Ethics in Science Fiction’

Kelvin Long, Institute for Interstellar Studies: ‘Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness: Extending Personal Freedom to the Space Frontier and Managing the Consequences’.

Ian Crawford, Birkbeck, London: ‘Interplanetary Federalism, Maximising the Chances of Extraterrestrial Liberty’