تمدن‌های فراتر از زمین: زندگی و جامعهٔ فرازمینی

Astronomers around the world are pointing their telescopes toward the heavens, searching for signs of intelligent life. If they make contact with an advanced alien civilization, how will humankind respond? In thinking about first contact, the contributors to this volume present new empirical and theoretical research on the societal dimensions of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). Archaeologists and astronomers explore the likelihood that extraterrestrial intelligence exists, using scientific insights to estimate such elusive factors as the longevity of technological societies. Sociologists present the latest findings of novel surveys, tapping into the public's attitudes about life beyond Earth to show how religion and education influence beliefs about extraterrestrials. Scholars from such diverse disciplines as mathematics, chemistry, journalism, and religious studies offer innovative solutions for bridging the cultural gap between human and extraterrestrial civilizations, while recognizing the tremendous challenges of communicating at interstellar distances. At a time when new planets are being discovered around other stars at an unprecedented rate, this collection provides a much needed guide to the human impact of discovering we are not alone in the universe. Dedication Contents List of Tables and Figures Acknowledgments Introduction: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence as an Interdisciplinary Effort • Albert A. Harrison and Douglas A. Vakoch Part I. Does Extraterrestrial Life Exist? 1. Are We Alone? Estimating the Prevalence of Extraterrestrial Intelligence • Seth Shostak 2. Encountering Alternative Intelligences: Cognitive Archaeology and SETI • Paul K. Wason 3. The Lifetimes of Scientifi c Civilizations and the Genetic Evolution of the Brain • Alan Penny 4. “L” on Earth • Kathryn Denning Part II. Reactions to Discovering Life Beyond Earth 5. Can SETI Fulfill the Value Agenda of Cultural Anthropology? • Donald E. Tarter 6. American Attitudes about Life Beyond Earth: Beliefs, Concerns, and the Role of Education and Religionin Shaping Public Perceptions • George Pettinico 7. Cultural Beliefs about Extraterrestrials: A Questionnaire Study • William Sims Bainbridge 8. The Science and Politics of SETI: How to Succeed in an Era of Make-Believe History and Pseudoscience • Albert A. Harrison Part III. Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence 9. Cultural Aspects of Interstellar Communication • Carl L. DeVito 10. Cosmic Storytelling: Primitive Observables as Rosetta Analogies • Harry Letaw, Jr. 11. Direct Contact with Extraterrestrials via Computer Emulation • William Sims Bainbridge 12. The Inscrutable Names of God: The Jesuit Missions of New France as a Model for SETI-Related Spiritual Questions • Jason T. Kuznicki 13. ET Phone Darwin: What Can an Evolutionary Understanding of Animal Communication and Art Contribute to Our Understanding of Methods for Interstellar Communication? • Kathryn Coe, Craig T. Palmer, and Christina Pomianek 14. A Journalistic Perspective on SETI-Related Message Composition • Morris Jones Notes on Contributors Index Introduction: The search for extraterrestrial intelligence as an interdisciplinary effort / Albert A. Harrison and Douglas A. Vakoch Does extraterrestrial life exist? Are we alone? Estimating the prevalence of extraterrestrial intelligence / Seth Shostak ; Encountering alternative intelligences : cognitive archaeology and SETI / Paul K. Wason ; The lifetimes of scientific civilizations and the genetic evolution of the brain / Alan Penny ; "L" on Earth / Kathryn Denning Reactions to discovering life beyond Earth. Can SETI fulfill the value agenda of cultural anthropology? / Donald E. Tarter ; American attitudes about life beyond Earth : beliefs, concerns, and the role of education and religion in shaping public perceptions / George Pettinico ; Cultural beliefs about extraterrestrials : a questionnaire study / William Sims Bainbridge ; The science and politics of SETI : how to succeed in an era of make-believe history and pseudoscience / Albert A. Harrison Communication with extraterrestrial intelligence. Cultural aspects of interstellar communication / Carl L. DeVito ; Cosmic storytelling : primitive observables as Rosetta analogies / Harry Letaw, Jr. ; Direct contact with exterrestrials via computer emulation / William Sims Bainbridge ; The inscrutable names of God : the Jesuit missions of New France as a model for SETI-related spiritual questions / Jason T. Kuznicki ; ET phone Darwin : what can an evolutionary understanding of animal communication and art contribute to our understanding of methods for interstellar communication? / Kathryn Coe, Craig T. Palmer, and Christina Pomianek ; A journalistic perspective on SETI-related message composition / Morris Jones.