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Thinking ET : A discussion of exopsychology
Döbler, Niklas; Raab, Marius (2021): Thinking ET : A discussion of exopsychology, in: Acta astronautica : journal of the International Academy of Astronautics, Oxford: Pergamon Press, Jg. 189, S. 699–711, doi: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2021.09.032.
Faculty/Chair:
Author:
Title of the Journal:
Acta astronautica : journal of the International Academy of Astronautics
ISSN:
0094-5765
Publisher Information:
Year of publication:
2021
Volume:
189
Pages:
Language:
English
Abstract:
Despite lacking scientific proof, thinking about extraterrestrials and extraterrestrial intelligence is part of our
psychological reality. It is often stated that cultural and scientific reception and representation of these strange entities suffer from anthropocentric bias. To profoundly investigate such bias and the minds of extraterrestrials, we propose a revised definition for the psychological discipline called “exopsychology.” We define exopsychology as a sub-discipline of psychology, which investigates the cognition, behavior, affects, and motives of extraterrestrial agents and their human-specific representation. It is argued that the concept of intelligence is not suited for application in SETI. Thus, inherent in exopsychology is the conception of extraterrestrials as higherorder cognitive agents and as strangest strangers. We discuss the possibilities and limitations of conclusions about extraterrestrials, which leads us to hypothesize that limited statements about them might be possible, even though still influenced by anthropocentrism. We argue that it is possible to utilize anthropocentric knowledge and distinguish between admissible and inadmissible anthropocentrism. Although the first contact between extraterrestrials and humanity might never occur, scientific thinking about extraterrestrials will improve our understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe.
psychological reality. It is often stated that cultural and scientific reception and representation of these strange entities suffer from anthropocentric bias. To profoundly investigate such bias and the minds of extraterrestrials, we propose a revised definition for the psychological discipline called “exopsychology.” We define exopsychology as a sub-discipline of psychology, which investigates the cognition, behavior, affects, and motives of extraterrestrial agents and their human-specific representation. It is argued that the concept of intelligence is not suited for application in SETI. Thus, inherent in exopsychology is the conception of extraterrestrials as higherorder cognitive agents and as strangest strangers. We discuss the possibilities and limitations of conclusions about extraterrestrials, which leads us to hypothesize that limited statements about them might be possible, even though still influenced by anthropocentrism. We argue that it is possible to utilize anthropocentric knowledge and distinguish between admissible and inadmissible anthropocentrism. Although the first contact between extraterrestrials and humanity might never occur, scientific thinking about extraterrestrials will improve our understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe.
GND Keywords: ; ;
Psychologie
SETI
Außerirdische Intelligenz
Keywords: ; ; ; ; ;
extraterrestrial intelligence
SETI
Extraterrestrial life
Psychology
Exopsychology
Anthropocentricsm
DDC Classification:
RVK Classification:
Peer Reviewed:
Yes:
International Distribution:
Yes:
Type:
Article
Activation date:
November 29, 2021
Versioning
Question on publication
Permalink
https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/51827