Thought experiments come true

THANK YOU whoever gave me the Christmas present 'The Pig that Wants to be Eaten' by Julian Baggini. How rude of me not to remember who gave me the book and only start reading it now! 99 thought experiments is just what I want to read right now. Coming from my new context of us living on the Moon within 20 years some of the more out of this world thought experiments might well become true.

Thought experiments are short scenarios that make present a philosophical problem in a vivid and distinct way. In 'The veil of ignorance' twenty civilians, selected to live on a Mars colony, are given the unusual task of deciding, before they set off, what would be the fairest way of distributing good, accommodation, food and luxury items. What if some colonists refuse to work or participate? Does fairness mean giving everyone the same?

The-Columbia Hills on Mars as seen from the Spirit Rover

According to political philosopher John Rawls, the colonist are in an ideal position to decide what is fair as they are behind a veil of ignorance.  He thinks if we want to know what fairness is on Earth, we should imagine ourselves in a similar position. Imaging not knowing if we are smart or stupid, dextrous or clumsy, fit or sickly. That way we can come up with rules for distributing goods fairly without discriminating.

The thought experiment made me wonder what lunar colonists might consider to be valuable luxury items. Would they be the same as on Earth or would new non-material luxury items start to become more valuable? Maybe the gifts of loving life, generosity, joy and creative arts would be considered more valuable.

In another thought experiment 'A Byte on the Side' Dick has been married for several years and is bored with his relationship. There was no passion left and he and his wife rarely slept together. But Dick had no intention of leaving his wife. He loved her and she was an excellent mother of their children. So rather than having an affair, Dick finds a company called A Byte on the Side Inc which offers the perfect solution: A complete computer simulation of sex with all the experience and excitement of an affair with no third person.

What's useful about this thought experiment is the wife's reaction to Dick's virtual affair. If she has no objection then it indicates what matters to her is that there is no other person. Their monogamous bond of affection is what matters. If she does object to the virtual affair then it indicates what matters and hurts is that Dick has turned away from her and to something else to express his sexuality.

This thought experiment made me wonder if within a small lunar colony infidelity might become an important issue. It would be an opportunity for the colonists to be clear about the difference between sex and love. It would be important not to let bonds of affection be broken by the biologically driven act of copulation. Wouldn't it be great if sex could be one of those non-material luxuries we can give to each other without damaging our bonds of affection. Safely!

Transit of the International Space Station

So great to look at photographs from the Astronomy Photographer of The Year 2011 run by the Royal Observatory and the Sky at Night Magazine.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14792580

All images subject to copyright. Music courtesy KPM Music. Slideshow production by Paul Kerley. 

Here' an astonishing image of the International Space Station flying across the disc of the Sun. It crossed the surface in half a second so the photographer had to be very skillful to capture the image. The Space Shuttle Endeavour can be seen docking with the ISS.

Colonel Catherine Coleman is as free as her hair!

On the August Bank holiday I was working from home with the radio on in the background.  I suddenly stopped everything when I heard Space Station and was instantly back in touch with my passion for space travel. It was a special programme about Women in Aviation where a NASA astronaut was being interviewed after spending 5 months on board the International Space Station. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b013ptf4

Catherine ‘Cady’ Coleman shared what it was like to be the only women in space with 5 male astronauts. By accepting her team as colleagues and being open she had different relationships than expected with everyone, all for the better.  She missed conversations with girl friends and family but had a weekly video conference call. Cady also loved going into the space station's observatory deck, the Cupola. See loved seeing Cape Cod and her home in Massachusetts coming towards her and thinking about her family. Then is a few minutes it would be gone. But in an hour and a half she would be back to see her home again!     

   

Tracy Caldwell Dyson in the Cupola

I could hear Cady is a stand for women to travel into space and to see it as something not just for other people who are specially chosen. She see’s women very much part of us going back to the Moon and to Mars.

The programme also made me wonder about music in space. Would instruments sound any different? Cady performed the first ever earth-space flute duet with Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull. She said the music sounded the same but holding the instrument took some getting used to.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c9b_1303330482

Presenter Jenni Murray asked Cady why she didn't tie her hair back while the duet was filmed. She said she normally would when working or with people but she liked to let her hair be free. It reminded her what a special place she was in.

What a stand Catherine Coleman is for women going into space. Being as free as her hair and inspiring women to be who they really wants to be.
Uh huh uh huh !