Project Cyclops, A Design... - Department of Earth and Planetary ...

culturesin contactwouldbe:
1. Thediscovery in oneanotherof thesocial forms
andstructuresmostapttoleadtoself-preservation risk.
andgeneticevolution.
2. The discovery of new aesthetic forms and endeavors
that lead to a richer life.
3. The development of branches of science not accessible
to one race alone but amenable to joint
efforts.
4. The end of the cultural isolation of the human
race, its entry as a participant in the community of
intelligent species everywhere, and the development
of a spirit of adult pride in man, rather than childish
rivalry among men.
Indeed the salvation of the human race may be to
find itself cast in a larger role than it can at present
visualize, one that offers a cosmic future but one that
requires a reorientation of our philosophy and of our
mores to fulfill.
POSSIBLE HAZARDS OF CONTACT
We have suggested several potential benefits of
contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. We should also
consider and attempt to evaluate any possible risks that
might attend exposing our existence to an alien culture
or cultures more advanced (and therefore more powerful)
than ours. These risks range from annihilation to
humiliation, but can be conveniently grouped into
categories: (1) invasion, (2) exploitation, (3) subversion,
and (4) cultural shock. Let us consider these in turn.
Invasion
By revealing our existence, we advertise Earth as a
habitable planet. Shortly thereafter we are invaded by
hordes of superior beings bent on colonizing the Galaxy.
Mankind is annihilated or enslaved. Although this is a
recurrent theme of science fiction, the facts do not
appear to justify it as a real danger.
If, as we suspect, interstellar travel is enormously
expensive even for an advanced culture (see Chap. 4),
then only the most extreme crisis would justify mass
interstellar travel. We feel we can dismiss the quest for
additional living space as a motiw::_:,_ since any race
capable of interstellar emigrati_3n would have already
solved its population problems long ago by internal
means. It is not inconcctvable that a race might seek to
avert extinction by mass exodus before its primary star
leaves the main sequence, if so, we would conjecture
that they would not wish to add the problems of combat
to those of the journey itself and would seek habitable
but uninhabited worlds. Such planets might have been
located long in advance by the galactic community or by
probes sent by the race in question. If so, affiliation with
a galactic community might confer security rather than
If, on the other hand, interstellar travel is much easier
than we predict, we would argue that to maintain radio
silence is no real protection, for in this case a galactic
survey would not need to depend on beacons. The
question to be answered in this case is Enrico Fermi's:
Where are they?
Exploitation
The possibility has been voiced that to a very
advanced race we might appear such a primitive life form
as to represent delightful pets, interesting experimental
animals, or a gourmet delicacy.1 The arguments against
invasion as a threat apply with even more force to these
fears, for the motivations are less compelling. In addition,
we might argue, albeit anthropocentrically, that
compassion, empathy, and respect for life correlate
positively with intelligence, though counterexamples are
not hard to find.
Subversion
A more subtle and plausible risk is that an alien
culture, under the guise of teaching or helping us might
cause us to build devices that would enable the alien
culture to gain control over us. A computer-controlled
experiment in biochemistry, for example, might be used
to create their life form here. There is no limit to the
kinds of threats one can imagine given treachery on their
part and gullibility on ours. Appropriate security measures
and a healthy degree of suspicion are the only
weapons.
Cultural
Shock
Finally, there is the possibility that mere contact with
an obviously superior race could be so damaging to our
psyches as to produce retrogression rather than cultural
advancement even with the best intentions on the part
of the alien culture. Although many scientists might
accept with equanimity positive proof of superior life on
other worlds, is mankind as a whole prepared for this?
The concept is certainly anathematic to most religions.
Sociologists point out that historically contact between
two terrestrial cultures has usually, if not always,
resulted in the domination of the weaker by the
stronger. We would argue that there is no example where
such domination has occurred by radio only. The
domination has always involved physical contact and
'Differences in biochemistry might equally well make us
deadly poisonous.
31