This article, published in an FQXi Essay Contest, discusses the importance of avoiding global catastrophe as a precursor to humanity expanding beyond planet Earth.
The article begins as follows:
Life is a marvel of thermodynamics. Living things are sustained eddies of structure in the flow of energy. They are islands of order in a universe that tends toward disorder. Simple, self-reinforcing chemical systems evolve into cells, plants, and animals capable of extracting usable energy from their environment. Some even become intelligent creatures capable of designing machines, building cities, and loving one another.
But life can cheat entropy only locally and only temporarily. Eventually the universe will come to equilibrium and all life in it will end. Eventually—to borrow a phrase—the pitcher will be shattered at the fountain, the wheel will be broken at the well, and the dust will return to the earth as it was.
Humanity must not squander the temporary miracle of its existence. We are still in the pivotal early days of our potential life as a species. We cannot say what our descendants—whatever they may be like—should choose to do with their lives. But we owe those who come after us the greatest possible chance to survive and flourish. What we do now could mean the difference between a long, prosperous future and extinction.
The remainder of the article is available in PDF from FXQI.
Image credit: NASA
This blog post was published on 17 April 2024 as part of a website overhaul and backdated to reflect the time of the publication of the work referenced here.