by Mark Waybill

Created on: October 03, 2009   Last Updated: October 08, 2009

Should humans be allowed to live on Mars? I say yes, why shouldn't we? But let me elaborate upon this somewhat brief sentiment. First, I see no objections to humans living on Mars. If technology can overcome the hurdles of this task, why should we not colonize the Red Planet for our society? There appears to be no moral objective, social objective or otherwise. The only objective, which of course is an objective to the worthiest of schemes, is of course the economic side of the argument, which as usual offers a barrier to progress.

The real question, I should think, is 'Should we live on Mars?'. Sounding perhaps very similar to the first, but quite different. Being allowed to do something suggests there is something unruly about it, or some might think so. However I will argue that while we are certainly permitted to play on Mars by the Head Master, and shall not get the cane for doing so, that it is necessary not only to ponder over the necessity of such a move, and it's feasibility, but over what precisely could be gained from such a move.

First, let's not forget that it is possible society may die by the time technology reaches this level of possibility. What purpose have we, to continue our existence when you replace superstitious religion with logical science? Without a God commanding us why should we live? What is the point? The answer of course is that there isn't one beyond our present reasons of maintaining society and avoiding pain, but these things shall surely be overcome by technological progress shortly.

So what then, if continuation of our species is unnecessary, is the point of colonizing an unnecessary planet? What purpose would it serve us? Well putting aside mineralogical reasons such as the possibility of oil being found on Mars (if there was water once that suggests the possibility of life although I myself do not believe the Red Planet ever grew trees of the Carboniferous variety, i.e reached that stage of development of flora evolution) there seems very little reason to colonize the planet. If this were a fictional universe operating by the laws of character and not by those of science there would be reason enough. It would seem logical and futuristic a thing to do but being contained within a universe of rationality and utilitarianism and scientific constraints what possible reason is there?

Thus I conclude by saying of course we should be allowed to live on Mars, but I hardly think it's necessary to do so.

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