How we might ethically govern space

Plus: Why overthinking is irrational ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ Today in [aeon]( [PSYCHE]( Tuesday 24 October 2023 Often our [interplanetary future]( is seen as a kind of glorious necessity: we must leave Earth in order to survive and thrive, and it will be the great achievement of our species to do so. But if life on Earth is any indication, the future of space exploration is a good deal more perilous than that rosy picture suggests. It’s time to be honest about the dangers ahead. – Sam Dresser, Deputy Editor [A black and white photo of a man in doctor’s clothing posed next to a lab bench with a microscope looking directly at the camera]( Space exploration Essay [The final ethical frontier]( [Earthbound exploration was plagued with colonialism, exploitation and extraction. Can we hope to make space any different?]( by Philip Ball [Today’s Idea]( is about an experience that many of us can relate to – overthinking. For some, it becomes so excessive that it forms part of a mental health diagnosis, such as OCD. But what is irrational about thinking excessively? Isn’t that what scientists do? Our author brings a philosophical perspective to help answer these questions. – Christian Jarrett, Editor of Psyche Worry and rumination Idea [If thinking is rational, what makes overthinking irrational?]( by Pablo Hubacher Haerle [Share this newsletter with a friend]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( You have received this email because you signed up to the Aeon+Psyche Newsletter list. © Aeon Media Group Ltd 2023. Level 5, 100 Flinders Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia. [PRIVACY POLICY |]( US]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](