Is Terraforming Mars Ethically Acceptable?

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An alternative proposition to make Mars suitable for human habitation is terraforming Mars; to deliberately change it’s environment to provide Earth-like ecosystems and that are suitable for humans.
Terraforming Mars would be a long time in the future, it would take more than 50,000 years to terraform Mars if we started now. Other sources state that “it would be hundreds of years before the thin Martian atmosphere could be transformed into an oxygen-rich cradle for life” (Livescience.com). Turning Mars’s cold atmosphere into a warm one, having a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere with oxygen for humans to breathe, and restoring its habitable state, is possible. And there is no reason to think that Mars is sterile or even hostile to life forms, …show more content…

In my opinion, I think that terraforming Mars is ethically acceptable if it is extremely needed. However, I think that humans should explore Mars as a planet to look for a new species of living organisms, and learn more about the planet itself. This, in turn, supports the cause of terraforming as a morally recommended action. On the other hand, environmentalists maintain that learning more about Earth’s ecosystems is more important than spending large sums of money on researching other planets. However, that is ill-considered, because the human exploration of space and mars has a lot to contribute to our environmental education. In general, terraforming is morally recommended. Terraforming another planet would provide valuable classes for the intelligent management of Earth’s biosphere. Environmentalists have for some time maintained the acquisition of this kind of knowledge as an ethical duty. Absent unforeseen objections and regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence of scientific and aesthetic value, terraforming is project humans ought to keep in mind …show more content…

To start with, the advantages of terraforming mars would be that it will make it easier to utilise resources, thus making the planet economically well, which will therefore generate value for the economy. It will also make it more attractive fto colonists and thus increase the population, which will increase the size of the Martian economy and result in a net gain for its society. Furthermore, it may make people who will accept living on Mars happier, which is something that is difficult to put a price on but has a significant value, especially when considered over large timescales. On the other hand, the ethics of terraforming Mars could be against it for the following disadvantages. Terraforming Mars would be expensive, it will take an extremely long time, and it can be potentially dangerous. The low gravity will cause medical issues such as muscular dystrophy and high blood pressure, and the lack of magnetic field will lead to radiation exposure and increase of

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