Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Should we explore space?
Position1 of 2›
"Yes, we should explore space"
Argument‹3 of 3

Exploring space can help to address Earth's problems

Analysis of planets close to us, like Mars or Venus, can help us understand Earth's climate and evolution.

The argument

In studying Earth and its climate, we have only Earth itself as a model. By sending probes to other planets in the solar system scientists can gain more in-depth and useful information about planetary evolution. Venus, for instance, seems to have undergone a runaway global warming effect. We can use this information to help Earth's ever-growing climate change situation. By studying Venus, researchers might be able to better understand the processes which take place during a long period of planetary climate change. Those same researchers may be able to partner with engineers and environmentalists to better control and handle the climate crisis here on Earth. Studying Mars, Earth's closest planetary neighbor, would allow an array of different types of scientists to apply the knowledge they find in the field to life on Earth. According to NASA, the main goal with a Mars exploration would be to discover whether or not humans can live for extended periods beyond low Earth orbit. If something is in low Earth orbit, or LEO, then it is within 2000 km of the Earth's surface. Continuing to explore space and other planets within the solar system can allow scientists to better understand Earth, and make future predictions about climate change.

Premises

[P1]Earth is our only model for studying its own climate, so sending probes to other planets yields deeper, more useful insight into planetary evolution. [P2] Venus's apparent runaway global-warming effect and Mars's potential to test long-term human habitability offer lessons that researchers can apply to Earth's climate crisis. [C] Therefore, because exploring space can help address Earth's problems, we should explore space.

Counter-arguments

Gonna cause debri and the world gonna end

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Space exploration is such an exclusive field that the theoretical benefits of the practice itself would never really benefit humanity as a whole.