Space Philosophy & Theory

Students enrolled in this Graduate Certificate program will study and explore such questions as: What should be the philosophical foundation for the future of humans in space? What beliefs and values will drive humans in space settlements? What are the possible futures for humankind if it remains on Cradle Earth and the implications of human settlement beyond?

Students will be exposed to historical perspectives of philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, andepistemology, as well as other topics central to understanding humankind’s journey to living andworking in space.

PHI 500: Philosophical Foundations (3 credits)

This course is an introduction to space philosophy through the study of the most important and influential writings in its history. Study of the major figures and movements in philosophy will range from the ancient to modern philosophy, including methods, positions, and themes of humanity’s fascination with space exploration and development, and traces their transition to space settlement.

PHI 501: Ethics, Values, and Society (3 credits)

This course examines fundamental questions of moral philosophy, the nature of judgements about moral and/or non-moral values, and the justification of institutions in societies. Questions that arise in this course include What are our basic values?, What are the ethical principles?, and How should we judge our actions, ourselves, and our lives aboard a space settlement? The topics discussed to help answer these questions and others like them include moral and political rights, democratic theory, political obligation and liberty, virtues and vices, equality, marriage and family, responsibilities, criteria of a just society, human rights and civil disobedience, ethical obligations, and public policy.

PHI 502: Strategic Foresight and Alternative Futures (3 credits)

This course examines the change that drives the scientific, technological, environmental, economic, political, and societal domains that lead to transforming every aspect of daily life. Students learn to anticipate, create, and manage change to enable new opportunities and provide a chance to influence the future to come. Topics shall include future trends, forecasting and modelling/simulation, emerging technology analysis, learning curves, roadmaps and roadmapping methodologies, systems thinking, and scenario planning and development.

PHI 503: The Human Centered Paradigm (3 credits)

This course offers discussions concerning the nature of human beings. Students shall examine how humans adapt, learn and develop over a lifespan through empirical, theoretical and philosophical investigations. Topics may include techniques of sentential and predicate logic, a formal study of systems of reasoning, set theory, modal logic, theory of knowledge, space and time, causation, death and dying, the relationship between the mind and the brain, and various philosophical and psychological approaches to language and meaning.