A Greater World Is Possible!
The expansion of civilization beyond the limits of our home planet is the moral issue of our time
Why not say it clearly?
Should we not expand into space within this century, our civilization could be prematurely terminated. For a civilization of more than eight billion people, expansion beyond the limits of our mother planet is a vital necessity, not exploration for its own sake.
A Greater World Is Possible! is Adriano V. Autino’s reflection on the state of civilization, its possible futures and the deep moral implications of the great choices it has to make. Rather than blame those responsible for half a century of delay, it brings together, in one coherent argument, the moral reasons for a mature, expansionist strategy.
Not a luxury: a moral duty
“Before going into space, we should solve the problems on Earth.” Anyone who has spoken about space has heard this objection. This book answers it head-on: scarcity, underdevelopment and “resource wars” cannot be solved with the resources of a single, closed planet. Opening the high frontier — starting with the industrialization of geo-lunar space — is the precondition for solving them.
“Like a child, who has no courage to leave the backyard, we run the risk of dying from hunger and thirst, while just beyond the street there is a great abundance of everything we need!”
Astronautical humanism
The book sets out a philosophy for the space age: people are not problems but resources; every human life is precious; growth and industrial development are essential to the survival of civilization. Along the way it takes on degrowth doctrine, the environmental question, the spirituality and cosmic destiny of humanity, and how space tourism can open the way to O’Neill’s colonies. It closes with a chapter by economist Patrick Collins.
Who this book is for
- Readers who care about the long-term future of humanity and civilization
- Space enthusiasts who believe in space settlement, not only exploration
- Anyone weighing “limits to growth” and degrowth against a future of abundance
- Readers interested in the ethics and philosophy of the space age
From the book
From the Premises
Well, it is my fundamental conviction that no Earthly problem can be solved, whatever the quality of the ideologies in support of the solution, if the space frontier remains closed. In view of this, our first priority is therefore to kick off the industrialization of the geo-lunar space. […] Once the high frontier of space is opened and humanity has access to the virtually unlimited resources of the solar system, the absurd “resource wars” raging here on Earth will gradually fade and completely shut off. […] New generations, having strong reasons to look to the future with confidence, hope and commitment, will then be able to smile at the history of their grandparents’ belligerent stubbornness!
From “People are not problems but resources”
According to astronautical humanism, true wealth is not money, which can be burned by the billions in stock exchanges in a single day. The real wealth is technological and scientific know-how and the potential for human work. […] The crisis is due to a lack of confidence in human possibilities, caused by a lack of philosophical maturity.
From the Foreword by Prof. Giancarlo Genta
Space exploration and the expansion of mankind in these new environments are not only — or even primarily — a matter of technology. They are essentially, as the title of this interesting essay states, a moral issue, a matter of choices that we have to make and decisions we have to take.
Edizione italiana: Un mondo più grande è possibile!
Una riflessione sullo stato della civiltà, sui futuri possibili e sulle ragioni profondamente morali di una strategia finalmente espansionista.
«Perché non riconoscere che l’espansione oltre i limiti del nostro mondo natale è una necessità assoluta e vitale, per una civiltà che si avvicina a superare gli otto miliardi di individui?»
About the author
Adriano Vittorio Autino, born in Moncrivello (VC, Italy), is a small entrepreneur in the field of real-time systems and systems engineering, and a space humanist philosopher. He is co-founder and President Emeritus of Space Renaissance International, an intercultural NGO whose mission is to expand civilization into outer space. More at adrianoautino.eu.
Also by Adriano V. Autino: 2030: The Eye of the Needle and Earth Is Not Sick: She’s Pregnant!, in the SRI Books Store.
How your purchase supports Space Renaissance International
A share of the author’s royalties from every copy is donated to Space Renaissance International to support its programs.
Space Renaissance International works to accelerate the policies, technologies and methods that will carry and house civilians in outer space. Learn about our mission.