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Chapter 9 - Astrosociology: Social Problems on Earth and in Outer Space

from Part I - General Concerns and Orientations in the Study of Social Problems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2018

By
Jim Pass
Edited by
A. Javier Treviño
A. Javier Treviño
Affiliation:
Wheaton College, Massachusetts
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Summary

The field of astrosociology, founded by this author in 2004, examines the relationship between outer space and society. Sociologists, other social scientists, and humanists have failed to recognize the impact of space on daily social life – a relationship that requires attention and serious scientific analysis. In the area of social problems, astrosociology examines the various ways in which space assets can mitigate troubling situations. Of course, space assets can also contribute to social problems, such as when a national government or private corporation militarizes space. Every scientific discovery or technological achievement can result in positive or negative consequences, or more typically in mixed uses and outcomes. This chapter examines both types of impact on society and establishes a firm foundation for future astrosociological theory and research into the relationship between space and social problems. The consideration of social problems on Earth, and their comparison with outer space environments, provides a preliminary examination of social concerns that can be expected in human space ecosystems.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems , pp. 149 - 168
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2018

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