EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE, STELLAR CIVILIZATIONS, AND ALIENS

Erik Cohen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Three myths of life on other celestial bodies are examined as potential motivators for space tourism. The historical myth of extraterrestrial planetary life was debunked by modern astronomy. The twentieth-century myth-like belief in the existence of stellar civilizations or extraterrestrial intelligence has engendered an extensive search for transmitted signals from such civilizations, but none have yet been detected. The post-modern myth of aliens visiting the Earth by unidentified flying objects, engendered new religious movements; however, it is silent about the aliens’ stellar origins, while the new religions do not encourage adherents to visit the aliens’ abodes. In the final analysis, none of the three myths offers an incentive for space travel and tourism.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTourism Social Science Series
PublisherEmerald Publishing
Pages69-92
Number of pages24
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Publication series

NameTourism Social Science Series
Volume25
ISSN (Print)1571-5043

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 by Emerald Publishing Limited. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.

Keywords

  • cosmic myths
  • disenchantment
  • SETI
  • space tourism motivation
  • UFO religions

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