The Astrobiological Landscape: Philosophical Foundations of the Study of Cosmic Life

Milan M. Ćirković

Jun 2012 · Cambridge Astrobiology Book 7 · Cambridge University Press

About this eBook

Astrobiology is an expanding, interdisciplinary field investigating the origin, evolution and future of life in the universe. Tackling many of the foundational debates of the subject, from discussions of cosmological evolution to detailed reviews of common concepts such as the 'Rare Earth' hypothesis, this volume is the first systematic survey of the philosophical aspects and conundrums in the study of cosmic life. The author's exploration of the increasing number of cross-over problems highlights the relationship between astrobiology and cosmology and presents some of the challenges of multidisciplinary study. Modern physical theories dealing with the multiverse add a further dimension to the debate. With a selection of beautifully presented illustrations and a strong emphasis on constructing a unified methodology across disciplines, this book will appeal to graduate students and specialists who seek to rectify the fragmented nature of current astrobiological endeavour, as well as curious astrophysicists, biologists and SETI enthusiasts.

About the author

Milan M. Ćirković is a research professor at the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade, (Serbia) and a research associate of the Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford. He received his PhD in Physics from the State University of New York, Stony Brook, his MS in Earth and Space Sciences from the same university, and his BSc in Theoretical Physics from the University of Belgrade. His primary research interests are in the fields of astrobiology (Galactic Habitable Zone, anthropic principles, SETI studies, catastrophic episodes in the history of life), astrophysical cosmology (baryonic dark matter, future of the universe) and philosophy of science (future studies, risk analysis, observation selection effects, epistemology). He co-edited the anthology Global Catastrophic Risks (2008), is the author of two other monographs, has written about 200 research and professional papers and has translated several books, including titles by Richard P. Feynman and Sir Roger Penrose.