Facing the 21st Century’s challenges by the Tools of Astronautic Humanism By Adriano V. Autino.pdf

Abstract
The aim of this paper is to introduce the basic concepts of Astronautic Humanism,
a new philosophic current whose roots began a century ago with Konstantin Tsiolkosky and his
famous sentence “Earth is the cradle of man, but one cannot live his whole life in a cradle”.
Just a couple of years ago, when the SRI founders started discussing the possibility of a space
renaissance spreading around the world, critics said action, science, and technology are
needed for humans to expand into space – not words. We went ahead at our pace, developing
the discussion about astronautic humanism as a means of fostering a new Copernican
revolution. In fact, the general perception of the world is limited to the boundaries of our
mother planet. Scientific and technological means for human expansion into space are fully
within our range. What is missing is a political orientation and a public awareness of the
urgency of space.
After estimating the improved feasibility of this philosophic re-foundation, the paper defines
astronautic humanism and points out similarities and differences between this discipline and
classic humanism, in both of which the human being is the focus. With an awareness that our
mother planet cannot be enough forever for a growing civilization, human life is re-evaluated,
facing the current challenges of civilization and other philosophical currents that place a
priority on freezing the natural environment as it is. Growth is analyzed from different points
of view. If we want the civilization to keep on advancing, growth is a must.
The Solar System can provide a platform a thousand-fold greater than the one needed by
seven billion people. Being humanists, we need an open world philosophy, expanding the
concept of “home” to the whole Solar System.