Galactic-scale macro-engineering: looking for signs of long-lived intelligent species, as an exercise in hope for our own

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Title: Galactic-scale macro-engineering: looking for signs of long-lived intelligent species, as an exercise in hope for our own
Author(s): Voros, Joseph
Abstract: If we consider Big History as simply 'our' example of the narrative of cosmic evolution playing out, then we can also seek to broaden our view of our possible fate as a species by asking questions about what paths or trajectories other species' own versions of 'Big History' might take or have taken. This presentation explores the broad contours of a couple of possible scenarios for the future evolution of an intelligent species---scenarios which might lie in our own distant future, or may have been part of another species' own Big History story. If the latter, then mounting a search for evidence of such galaxy-scale macro-engineering projects---such as will be sketched here---provides a basis for some hope in our ability to navigate the phase of 'technological adolescence' at which we find ourselves in the long-term view of the possible evolutionary 'future histories' of our species. This presentation is intended to be a fun exploration of some of the wilder implications of taking a really big-picture long-term 'Big History timescale' view of the future possibilities of successful intelligent species. I hope you enjoy the ride!
Publication type: Seminar, speech or other presentation
Research centre: Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Business and Enterprise
Source: Horizon: The Planetarium (Scitech): Planetary Futures Event held as part of the 2012 Asia-Pacific Foresight Conference, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, 16-18 November 2012
Publication year: 2012
Keyword(s): Big History; Intelligent species; Macro-engineering
Publisher: Asia-Pacific Foresight Conference
Publisher URL: http://asiapacificforesightconference.com/
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