The philosophical and moral framework developed to govern interactions with non-human, extraterrestrial intelligences or ecosystems. This isn't just about being polite; it's about grappling with questions for which human history provides no clear answers. Does the "Prime Directive" apply? Do they have rights? Is it ethical to alter their world for our needs, or to domesticate their lifeforms? It forces us to define "personhood," "sentience," and "value" in a cosmic context, moving beyond anthropocentrism.
Example: The debate over whether to strip-mine an asteroid that is also the nesting ground for strange, crystalline Alien Lifeforms is a problem of Alien Ethics. So is deciding if we should attempt to cure a plague afflicting a hostile but sentient alien species, or let natural selection take its course. It's morality stretched across light-years.
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 3, 2026
Get the Alien Ethics mug.