RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
Someone posed this question to me early this week and I really didn't have an answer at the time. I probably would think it cool. But until they put a actual human on mars and build a research facility, it's just another rock floating in the distant space, what are your thoughts?
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Everyday Chit Chat
How would the discovery of life on Mars effect our society?
[31 posts] [17 contributors]
Topic Rating:
(Total Ratings: )
Rate this topic:
Rate this topic:
-
bucki12
wp
Login to Send PM
I don't think it would change much at all. It would not be a stretch to think that some form of simple life exists or existed there. Hell we are pretty close - so it is also quite possible that there may have been some interplanetary organic sharing over the millenia.
I think a major shakeup won't happen until the Borg get here.
Posted 9 months ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
Login to Send PM
Can't help but think of this:
Posted 9 months ago # -
alexs
Limestone bluffs of the Scioto
Login to Send PM
It would matter if you believe the creation story. They'd have to think up a work-around, like God chose not to reveal that part of His creation until Man was ready.
The universe is problematic to the creationist view. It was tough enough getting them to realize that the Earth is not the center of the universe. It's still tough to get them to acknowledge that there _might_ be life elsewhere else. Present them with hard evidence of life on Mars, and their story is discredited.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Rockmastermike
The Bacon District
Login to Send PM
alexs said:
It would matter if you believe the creation story. They'd have to think up a work-around, like God chose not to reveal that part of His creation until Man was ready.The universe is problematic to the creationist view. It was tough enough getting them to realize that the Earth is not the center of the universe. It's still tough to get them to acknowledge that there _might_ be life elsewhere else. Present them with hard evidence of life on Mars, and their story is discredited.
I think it goes a little beyond being quite that simple.
I don't believe any religion's creation mythology, and know that by some theories, it is actually quite likely that there is other life elsewhere in the universe. But, knowing the theory and knowing for sure are two different things.
Also, life on mars does NOT necessarily 'disprove' any given creation myth anymore than knowing than knowing about evolution disproves the bible, it just changes the parameters and turns literal interpretation into more allegorical interpretation. There are plenty of good Christian biologists.
Also, if it turns out that there is/was life on the FIRST planet we check beyond ours, it has huge implications for how common life elsewhere might be. Granted that the conditions on the two planets may have been at some time in the past fairly similar (and WHY are they different now?!), the implication is still that there is not anything particularly "special" about earth and by extension that the same immutable chemical laws that operate here are even more likely than previously thought to be operating elsewhere. That's pretty damned huge when considering that there are already several hundred other planets that have been discovered and we have barely started looking.
There is also the panspermia hypothesis to consider. If life on mars is similar, uses the same 22 amino acids, is based on DNA, etc... then the implication MAY be that the two planets may have been "seeded" by a common source. Perhaps cometary debris, which is known to harbor some organic compounds. Organic compounds of various kind have also been found in interplanetary nebula. I suspect if this turns out the be a possibility, that at least one or two religions would incorporate panspermia as an interpretation of their existing beliefs; i.e. that a god may have seeded more than one planet.
Its certainly interesting to consider all this, but I'm not even 100% sure how I personally would feel about the discovery, much less anyone else. Also, the rover will still be in diagnostic and setup mode for the next several days, so it will be a while before any science is done, probably even longer to actually use the device that can quantify organics.
Posted 9 months ago # -
myliftkk
Columbus, OH
Login to Send PM
I would hope it would be the final shiv splitting the ribs that protect creation mythologies. Sadly, it will probably take one more generation past discovery to deliver the final blow (and more than that if the Bobby Jindal voucher program starts sending all those kids to private creation schools).
Posted 9 months ago # -
alexs
Limestone bluffs of the Scioto
Login to Send PM
You must log in to post.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.