Humans on Mars and beyond - by HB Paksoy, D.Phil.
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Humans on Mars
and beyond
by
HB Paksoy, D.Phil.Mars and Beyond
T he purpose of this collection is not to discuss the
technologies required for the round trip. Nor
is it to discuss the ‘inevitability’ of human quest to
explore. Instead, the focus is on politically ‘what
will happen’ when the humans reach Mars.
When the ‘white men’ arrived on the new
(American) continent, they brought much of their
own culture and world view with them. Despite
the existence of natives who were already living
there, the newcomers began to establish the insti-
tutions they imported. And those new institutions
were to the detriment of the existing natives. That
did not stop the newcomers, nor, by-and-large,
Humans on Mars Copyright © 2012 by saddled them with moralistic issues.
HB Paksoy. All rights reserved.
Mars, to our current knowledge, does not contain
ISBN: 1470187221 any native populations. However, the Earthlings
ISBN-13: 9781470187224
1Humans on Mars and beyond Mars and Beyond
arriving there, once again, will bring their own are preparing to colonize Mars have agreed to
institutions with them. In this case, we may even collaborate when they arrive on Mars.
surmise, more than one system, given the prolif-
eration of space technology among nations of History has limits. There have been more histo-
diverse backgrounds. That also means there will riography volumes penned than a professional
be more than one culture, as well as Governance historian may be able to read in a human life-
method. Does that herald a clash of cultures and time. Yet, limits are still there. For example,
Governance modes? At that point, it becomes at one point, it was suggested that history has
necessary to spend some overview time, looking ended because a country had won a non-
at the behavior on Earth. shooting war. Perhaps the reference was only
to that chapter. That did not mean all the his-
This is not to suggest that there are inherent torical questions were correctly answered. A
ideologies specific to certain lands. On the few examples1: One of the intellectual ques-
other hand, there are the historical examples tions, at least to the outsiders, was whether or
that keep repeating, because the humans liv- not the current Egyptians are the biological
ing on those lands wish that circle of life. That descendants of the ancient Egyptians? After
circle may be easily renewed, since there is air all, Egypt has been occupied by a string of
to breathe, and water to drink on Earth lands. outsiders, and their ruling family was replaced
Those two elements are either scarce or as yet several times. That, without even bringing up
non-extant on Mars. That means, if colonies the issues of governance and religion imposed
are to be established on Mars, both must be upon the population in general. Naturally, the
generated artificially, safely and continuously. current day Egyptians are much more interested
Technological journals have been filled with arti- in that question than outsiders for heritage rea-
cles showing how those aims could be accom- sons. However, historians or the historical
plished, albeit expensively. On the other hand, 1 HB Paksoy, “Kutluk Veren Bilgi’nin Baslangici, Tarihcinin Sonu: Tarih
we do not yet know, if the different cultures that Mi, Yoksa Tarihcilik Mi Son’a Erdi?” in Dusuncelerin Kokenleri
(Florence: Carrie/European University Institute, 2006)
2 3Humans on Mars and beyond Mars and Beyond
record could not authoritatively demonstrate an Many an academic discipline may outlive a
answer one way or the other. The length of productive past. They are either completely dis-
time that passed since the removal of the native continued, or give birth to other, more rational,
dynasties, and the loss of records due to vari- new disciplines. Alchemy has become chemis-
ous reasons (arson, systematic removal, et al), try. While alchemy strove to convert lead into
there was not sufficient material for the histo- gold, the resultant efforts encouraged wider
rians to apply their historiography to derive a thinking. Something similar may be said of the
clear answer. The question about whether the relationship between astrology and astronomy.
current day Egyptians are direct descendants In this century, there may be several other disci-
was initiated by Napoleon’s actions. Finally, plines that can be candidates for that outcome.
technology has caught up to provide the tools Is history one of those? Or, was the treatment
for a verification of the question. Even though and practice of history misconstrued originally,
Napoleon’s primary aim in invading Egypt and needs to be re-oriented toward more prac-
(1798–1801) was to cause England economic tical sub-fields?
difficulties by cutting the lines of communication
between India and England, the more enduring It can be argued that the primary use of history
results he obtained there were to the benefit of is to learn the lessons from the experiences of
all humanity. At this juncture, we also need to the past human polities. The familiar timeline
recall that Napoleon was in the company of that is usually attached to historical study is nec-
select scientists. essary in order to know the flow of events in the
proper sequence. The lessons will be skewed if
Later on, another such question involved the Reformation is considered before Christ. Then
death of Napoleon Bonaparte. How did his comes the most critical of the steps; how those
majesty pass away? Again, hard sciences pro- lessons are identified and learned. Perhaps it is
vided the answer as opposed to the historical easier to notice a lesson than learning it. Since
profession. history is the record of humans, the learning of
4 5Humans on Mars and beyond Mars and Beyond
the historical lessons can be very problematic. altered somewhat by the international treaties
Humans tend to believe what they wish. They signed by nations on Antarctica and Agreement
can create images in their minds, and propa- Governing the Activities of States on the Moon
gate that image in media even when no such and Other Celestial Bodies. For ease of access,
event was recorded anywhere. As one result, both of those treaties are appended to this work.
the wrong lessons may be learned from the his- To what extent those treaties may overcome the
torical record. And those wrong lessons, in the colonial zeal is something that needs to be con-
hands of overly ambitious leadership teams can sidered now. And, that is a task that can be
lead to disaster; not only to nations, but also to tackled by history.
the world. Libraries and bookstores are full of
volumes showing what happened in the after- The ‘state behavior’ is closely tied to culture.
math of a historical lesson incorrectly learned. Most nations have developed a culture unique
to themselves. Some cultures are more heavily
History is not a science that can be reduced to influenced by others then some. Others have
equations. That is, one cannot establish formulas adapted various cultural traits developed by oth-
to predict future behavior of nations, individuals ers. Nonetheless, culture may be specific to a
or the world. Yet, in capable hands, lessons nation, but exhibits various sub-headings, such as
can be summarized from past experiences to food, politics and reactions to other cultures. One
help the future behavior. Given the relationships of the better examples may be found in Europe,
between Spain and Portugal in South America between British, French and German models. As
during the 15th century, Russian Empire in Central soon as one develops a particularity, others tend
Asia in the 19th, the British and French in North to adapt it to the specifics of their own. Germany
America in the 18th, Rome in Illyricum and Dacia has the Nibelungen and the Ring Cycle.
in the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C., these are but a Britain has the Lord of the Rings. The French
few examples that will guide us to ‘state behav- possess their own versions influenced by Wagner
ior’ on Mars. Those behavioral patterns may be or in response to him. One example is by Gabriel
6 7Humans on Mars and beyond Mars and Beyond
Fauré as well as André Messager. Given that Economy (or, more plainly, how wealth is
‘high culture’ often stimulates and dictates thought accumulated) is yet another arena where dif-
patterns on the minds of the governance strata ferences between polities are differentiated.
members, and sometimes keeps alive ‘chips on Mercantilism of Europe and the Capitalism of
shoulders,’ one must not make the mistake of disre- the early American republic versus the Etatism
garding this category in the decision-making pro- of France may be cited for the purpose.
cess. Some old wounds are very difficult to heal,
and the said wounds may flare at any moment. Given that a series of countries have either
Even the 20th century is full of examples. developed technologies to reach Mars, or are
about to, they are likely to take their cultures,
Political culture is another road-marker. All in any format, to the Red Planet. To those, one
cultures in this category experience stresses may also add the corporate cultures that have a
between the rights of individuals versus the ten- vested interest in the effort. That interest does
dency of the central government to control all not stop at the launch point at earth, after they
aspects of life. The governance stratum of a have designed and built the devices needed
polity is generally in competition with the gover- for the trip. The companies who design the
nance strata of other polities. And the individu- spacecraft are only the tip of the proverbial tip
als invariably demand freedoms not necessarily of the spear. There are others who will ben-
easily accepted by the governance strata.2 The efit from the acquisition of rare minerals, and
struggle becomes visible not only in the intellec- those who seek manufacturing facilities without
tual arena, but also in the streets. The empire interference from environmentalists. And, yes,
versus republic tug-of-war in Europe is well the management of those corporations is com-
known across time. Asia has another version prised (mostly) of humans as well.
of this matter, if not older.
2 HB Paksoy, IDENTITIES: How Governed, Who Pays? (Printech, The corporations always had a love-and-hate
2001); also available from Entelequia, 2006 (2nd Ed.) relationship with the governing strata of the
http://www.eumed.net/entelequia/pdf/b002
8 9Humans on Mars and beyond Mars and Beyond
polities in which they are chartered. Some are for the space aliens to contact, whenever that
encouraged by the state; others are muzzled. might be.3 One may suggest, humor is the most
And none of those conditions are permanent, important attribute for the task.
but subject to the sway of a series of condi-
tions. Most of those conditions occur due to In the meantime, all that remains to be done is
the share of the global wealth pie they covet; to find the proper public relations handles for
as do all humans. the animalistic processes such as sex and death
during the voyage.
As also indicated in the chapters, technology
will always progress. Scientists may even find The principal articles brought together in this vol-
a cure for the common cold. On the other ume were all published in the pages of the jour-
hand, all possible governance methods, sys- nal Entelequia. Revista Interdisciplinar.
tems and modes have already been developed I offer my sincere thanks to Editor-in-Chief:
and tried at least once. That is where histori- Alfonso Galindo Lucas and Executive Editor:
cal discipline’s task rests: drawing and propa- Rafael Gómez Sánchez as well as the Editorial
gating the lessons from all those trials for the Board Members who have remained anony-
benefit of the entire population on earth; and mous during the related review processes.
perhaps even beyond.
“Governance on Mars” was published during
Meanwhile, we may come face-to-face with 2009. On Sep 17, 2010, at a press confer-
beings from outer-space. They may know us ence held in Kremlin, Moscow, introducing the
much better than we can ever hope to learn. International Space Station Expedition 25 Crew:
That is likely to affect our better understanding NASA astronaut Doug Wheelock, Russian cos-
of religion as well. “Tengri on Mars” may pro- monauts Oleg Skripochka and Alexander Kaleri;
vide a portal for that purpose. After all, the NASA astronauts Scott Kelly and Shannon
United Nations already designated a person 3 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/8025832/UN-to-
appoint-space-ambassador-to-greet-alien-visitors.html
10 11Humans on Mars and beyond
Walker; along with Russian cosmonaut Fyodor
Yurchikhin,4 the Russian Cosmonauts began
answering the questions raised in that piece
beginning at time index 17 minutes, 25 seconds,
of the said Press Conference. (Uploaded by
GOVERNANCE
NASA television).5 On January 26, 2011 it was ON MARS
announced that the PLA Chinese Air Force began
issuing pilot licenses for first time as reported
by Zhang Qian, People’s Daily Online, again,
addressing the same questions.6
At this stage, there seems to be two objectives for
W e are immediately inundated with ques-
tions, when we consider Mars as a pro-
posed extension of Earth:
manned flight into space: The first is Mars, and the
next one is the moon of Jupiter, Europa. As yet, it 1. What will be the identity of the Mars colo-
does not seem that the choice is decided upon. nists when third parties arrive; will they
be identified with the political-economic
Human life is brief. And, technology takes time terminology and personality (USA. or The
to develop. I expect, I will not see the humans People’s Republic of China or The Russian
landing on Mars and certainly not on Europa. Federation, Japan, India, South Korean),
But, in all probability, my Grandson Sami Paksoy or Earthly ethnicity (white-black-brown,
will. Therefore, I dedicate this work to him. et al)? Is the latter condition not already
being perpetuated now under the magical
term “globalism?” Especially since, only
4 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/
expedition25/index.html the terminology is new –“cosmopolitan-
5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g02meEV6hI4&feature=play
er_embedded#! ism” has always been around. Secretary
6 http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90786/7273402. of State John Hay, in 1899, espoused for
html
12Humans on Mars and beyond GOVERNANCE ON MARS
China, the Open skies doctrine. That was cumulatively participated in creating
essentially another restatement of the same the capital that paid for the expenses.
objective, just like the Internationalism Corporations sold goods worldwide to
wave of the 1950s, and multinationalism accumulate their profits; multinational agen-
of the 60’s and 70’s, all of which may be cies benefited from global talent et al.
said to hark back to the Roman Empire.
5. Will the Martian ‘ownership’ be mod-
2. What will be the primary objective of the eled after the Antarctic treaties? That is,
Martian identity on the colonies? Will the will Mars (and all other future colonies)
residents be representing the nation states be treated as the property of all humanity
whence they came (therefore, working and held in trust for the purpose? Who
for the taxpayers who sent them to Mars), will enforce the treaties, if that will be the
or will they be looking after the interests governance method selected for Mars?
of private agencies or corporations? With what? Whose police or army, if
there are transgressions to the capitula-
3. Is it possible to consider Mars without a tions of the agreements? United Nations?
distinct identity, independent of the myriad
of identities brought to the planet’s surface Will there be any overseeing agencies
from earth? If not, is it possible to create to whose authority one may appeal if the
a mosaic identity, or will it be one started force used is thinly veiled under legal pre-
with a clean slate? cepts? Such as the International Court of
Justice, The Hague?
4. Who will benefit from the natural wealth
of Mars? Those who paid for the cost of 6. What will be the role of private groups,
reaching Mars, or the entire humanity? In companies on Mars? Will those private enti-
one way or another, the entire humanity ties operate as owners, or contractors? If as
14 15Humans on Mars and beyond GOVERNANCE ON MARS
contractors, will they carry state powers, from Mars, some legal document will
say like The British East India Company? have be designed, if Mars (like Antarctica)
is being held in trust for all humanity. By
7. Especially initially, it will be very expen- what authority will the Martian side sign
sive per person to be living on the surface the contract? If the Martian side does
given the geologic and biologic impera- not perform the conditions stipulated,
tives requiring correction to human tol- which authority will be tasked to enforce
erable levels. So, when a Martian colo- remedy?
nist commits a crime, will that person be
incarcerated on Mars or will that person 10. Who, by the way, will provide the police
be exiled to Earth where it will be much system, personnel, equipment in Mars?
less costly to complete a jail sentence? What type of court system will be needed
for local transgressions of law not involv-
8. Similarly, cost of rearing a new generation ing international treaties?
from birth will also be costly. Will this be
allowed, or will there be an importation of 11. Will the relations between Mars and
adults only? Will this be in the form of the Earthly polities conducted on the bases of
medieval Mamluks? In the case of the for- equal treatment, from state to state? Will
mer, will this regulation not be tantamount both entities be entitled to keep embassies
to issuing birthing and parenthood licenses? on each others’ soil? Or, will private third
In the case of the latter, perhaps there might parties, such as corporations, be depu-
be a return to the indentured professional? tized to perform those duties?
9. What will be the relations of Earthlings to 12. In case the deputies (selected from pri-
the Martian colonies? Not to be taken vate entities) fail to carry-out specified
lightly. To acquire goods and resources duties, who will arbitrate? For example, if
16 17Humans on Mars and beyond GOVERNANCE ON MARS
the East India company—British, French, 14. The question: “we already have plenty of
Dutch, et al—entered into a transaction issues on earth, should we not solve them
outside India, directly with another for- before we are concerned with mars?” can
eign entity, who enforced or guaranteed be posed. There is a two-part response:
the performance? After all, East India
company was not an accredited country, A) We are selecting Mars as our stage to
even if the company possessed armed discuss earthly matters. The purpose is to
forces, army, navy and tax collection look at the mechanics of those issues with-
apparatus with full administrative cadres, out the national, and personal, colorings
including courts. to understand how they work.
13. On earth, ‘colonization’ meant sending a B) Weather ‘we’ are ready or not, some-
group of individuals to deal with extant body will land on Mars, and ‘we’ will be
populations in order to extract maximum confronted with the issues, regardless. The
benefit for the interest of the mother (send- matter appears to have been settled: Mars
ing) country. In the case of Mars, the is the target planet for “colonization.”
expected Green Martian Man did not yet
materialize. Therefore, the expectation is 15. The best solution is not to have the prob-
dealings only between the different eth- lem in the first place. That is: if the inten-
nicities and nationalities who will be sent tion was to keep the existing borders, rela-
from the Earth. That may prove to be a tions and develop in cooperation into the
much more difficult task than the earth future, related mechanisms must be estab-
colonization projects. Simple reason: in lished ahead of time. We must, therefore,
the earth projects, the colonizers had, in reach-out to the earthly neighbors in order
many cases, technological advantage. to become acquainted what will be greet-
That may not be the case on Mars. ing us on Mars, whether we like it or not.
18 19Humans on Mars and beyond GOVERNANCE ON MARS
Or else, the extant polarities are promis- the way; the order in which the flags of the
ing to shift significantly. Allies were to be displayed on the spaceships
was the issue. And those allies with national
16. The suggestion is not to peer into the crys- symbols also included private companies, not
tal ball; That would be too easy. Instead, simply political entities with defined borders.
to prepare for certain alliance shifts.
This is possibly the most momentous occasion
“May I see your Identification?” since the Vikings landed on Vinland (who may
not have left a flag or banner on the ground).
It is a friendly enough request by the private Now, the immediate issue is not technology, but
security guard. After all, he was hired for the governance. Why, what about the monumen-
purpose. These are the facilities of a private tal technological accomplishment that brought
company, producing devices for export to space humans to Mars? All that is now Immaterial. If
stations and to Earth. Never mind the fact that humans have reached a clean slate, such as
most of the cost of constructing the facility was Mars, they are bound to bring their emotional
drawn from public funds, furnished by taxpay- and intellectual baggage with them.
ers. I do not have an identification card. But I
ask: “Were you not informed of my pending One of the primary items in that inventory
arrival?” The security guard is silent in his self- pertains principles of governance. That is an
contained environmental suit. endowment we humans have been handed
since primordial times. Such emotions and prac-
Congratulations! The spaceship launched by the tical applications are distilled in the following:
United States and Allies, arrived on Mars and
disgorged the personnel tasked with the duty “46. I was observing a group of early grade
of colonizing the planet with earthlings. Mind school pupils. In their play-time they were
you, there was an international incident along engaging in creating the rules of their activities.
20 21Humans on Mars and beyond GOVERNANCE ON MARS
One suggested that he was the most senior. Nasreddin to bring back something specific.
Another countered that he had been a pupil Just before Nasreddin undertook his voyage,
longest. A third began taking a threatening pos- one child approached him, handing a coin. He
ture toward the first two. The point of contention asked that Nasreddin bring back a whistle.
was to determine who was going to order the
rest of the children about. This formula will per- In due time, Nasreddin returned from the
sist for the future.”7 market, with the same group of children sur-
rounding him, awaiting to receive what they
Naturally, every type of governance requires had ordered from Nasreddin. Nasreddin pro-
financing, even if the guiding doctrine of most duced a whistle, blew it, and handed it to the
administrations is to quietly sweep the issue child who asked for and paid for it. Nasreddin
under a distant rock. At this point, the group loudly announced: “He who pays for the whis-
that has arrived on Mars is not concerned tle, owns it.”
with finance. Or, are they? Who financed the
research and development of the trip and related Naturally, whomever paid for the Mars trip
vessels and equipment? We might remind our- (and related preparations) will get to determine
selves that with an anecdote: who will govern Mars, and how? Or, will that
be the case? For example, on what principles
Nasreddin8 was going to the market. When of governance? Is it going to be a democracy
the neighborhood children discovered that, (whatever that may have meant), dictatorship
all ringed around him. Every last one asked of spacesuits, or inmates of the bubble abodes?
7 H.B. Paksoy, IDENTITIES: How Governed, Who Pays? (Malaga:
Entelequia, 2006) Ed. Chapter 13: Observations. http://www. Besides, will the payment be entirely in monetary
eumed.net/entelequia/pdf/b002.pdf
8 H.B. Paksoy, “Elements of Humor in Central Asia: The Example of the terms? Who paid for the Glorious Revolution
Journal Molla Nasreddin in Azerbaijan” Essays on Central Asia
(Lawrence: Carrie, 1999); see also, H.B. Paksoy, Ed. “Introduction” (1688)? American Revolution (1776)? French
The Bald Boy Keloglan and the Most Beautiful Girl in the Revolution (1789)? Russian Revolution (which
World. (Lubbock: ATON, 2003). All are available on the web.
22 23Humans on Mars and beyond GOVERNANCE ON MARS
one?)? And a number of similarly momentous public purse are swayed only after a private
ones, some much older than those listed above? entity pledges, at a distant future, to make their
contributions. One can think of the football sta-
Governance and public finance are insepara- dium examples.
ble siblings. It is not possible to keep the two
apart for long. And, as every thinking person So, how can the Mars partnership be structured
knows, public finance equals taxes. There and governed? One can easily see public
have, of course, been occasions where a pri- servants of the United States and a collection
vate entity may have paid for the public. In that of allies stepping out of the spacecraft that
case, the end result can hardly be fully public. brought them to the inhospitable environment.
What is their first action?
There have also been instances where the pub-
lic monies have been spent, for public good. Let us step back a moment, and consider the
Yet, a private entity may have collected the related development of mechanisms.
glory. The latest example of this phenomenon
involves football stadiums in public universities. Governance of some sort is a precondition to
The football stadium might be named after a collect taxes. There has never been a polity
private entity as if that private entity has paid that could survive without “public revenue,” so
for all relevant costs. In some instances, what necessary to pay for common expenditures for
the private entity donated equals to approxi- the sustainment of a society.
mately ten percent of the total; the rest being
augmented from the public taxes, but the edi- Taxes have always been in existence, for the
fice is known by the name of the private person convenience of the taxing authority. The basic
or organization. Naturally, there is likely to be justification is that taxes pay for the security of
a ‘partnership,’ and there are many examples the polity, if not, provided some is left over, for
across the United States: The custodians of the public works. That, of course, implies that the
24 25Humans on Mars and beyond GOVERNANCE ON MARS
public servants charged with the duty of over- humane, etc. Yet the humans must effect the
seeing the governance are carrying out their application of any governance system, regard-
duties. Any time there is a misuse in the taxation less of the claims made by anyone. It is possible
(the king or the president needing a new pal- to apply a coat of paint to a wall, in a cursory
ace, for example), the entire picture becomes or excellent manner, so it is with the application
skewed, to say the least. of governance. The application and the result-
ant Governance System may wear hobnailed
Thus, Governance is never simply a matter of boots or glass slippers.
the ‘leadership’ giving instructions or handing
down decrees. The purpose of Governance Technology will continually develop. It always
is to provide the security and comforts to has. It is in the nature of humans to exert efforts
the Governed. The Governed would prefer to compete, and, technology is yet another
to know what tomorrow or next decade will field of competition. Except, the winner in
bring. The Governed also would fancy ever technology will also be in a position to win in
higher levels of creature luxuries. These fac- every other endeavor for which there is a con-
tors broaden the discussion into all relevant test. Occupation of lands is perhaps the most
areas of human interest. Without food and favorite.
other basics, the Governed cannot exist or
maintain life on Earth. Lacking a population to At times, previously developed technology is
Govern, regardless of the nature, philosophy lost for reasons we do not necessarily under-
or application of the governance system, all is stand. Yet, what was lost at one time is recov-
non-existing. ered or re-invented later.
A series of governance systems insist (either via Many a time, it is assumed that technology
their written doctrines, or by human support- changes governance. This is not so. Technology
ers with vested interests) that they are the most always provides tools toward any number of
26 27Humans on Mars and beyond GOVERNANCE ON MARS
objectives. It is the human brain that creates not back and forth with the ebb and flow of the
only technology but also the uses. human nature dominating the polity involved.
Principles of governance: Governance and Rebellion to the same is
natural. Elders will instinctively look after the
The principles of governance may be repre- younger generation, for the survival of the spe-
sented as follows: cies. It is only the sharing of scarce resources
that will bring out the best and the worst in the
1. Cooperation among the population for governing strata and those who they govern.
mutual governance versus one person This bifurcation deepens if the governing strata
autocracy; happens to own the resources or has acquired
control of them in any fashion. Again, the des-
2. Permanent Rule by a self-defined (and ignation or label of the governance system is
accomplished) group, versus governance immaterial at this juncture. It is not the words
by a randomly rotating leadership, with that determine the character of the process, but
or without elections; the actions.
3. Hereditary Rule by a dynastic line or lines The actions first require thinking. Not a random
versus externally appointed ruler- ship of thought, but an ordered variety.
any stripe;
Allow me to suggest an approach:
Any and all of these basic identities will exhibit
variants. These variations are not progressive One of the ordered varieties is Critical Thinking
or chronological. That is to say, one perceived (and allied outcomes). This mode requires col-
evolution will not lead to another, set of steps. lecting all available data and auditing each
Instead, the entire process is dynamic, moving data set against all others.
28 29Humans on Mars and beyond GOVERNANCE ON MARS
Instead of attempting to start with a definition of What type of world are we going to live in?
Critical Thinking, could we have
Are we going to allow somebody else, who we
some applied cases, and reverse engineer the did not elect, to dictate to us the terms of life,
working definition? Or, perhaps, by the time make choices for us? Mind you the claims of
we find the applications, there will no longer be taking charge because there is a “critical emer-
a need for a frozen, static and hampering set gency” requires an investigation of the said crit-
of words. After all, Critical Thinking requires a ical emergency to determine the causes thereof.
great deal of flexibility under constantly chang-
ing conditions and sets of information available Or, are we going to make those choices for our-
to anyone on the scene. selves, with the help of communal approaches?
Since each involved person is bringing a dif- What allows us the balance between the
ferent disciplinary specialty to this gather- extremes?
ing, the examples are likely to reflect different
approaches to solving the problem of ”how Those choices will also determine where we
do we successfully teach/arrive at, critical live, how we live, what we can and cannot do.
thinking in order to educate participants to
obtain maximum rational results with minimum One of the difficulties of stressing the importance
error?” of these questions is that, the data, or even the
issues, are not always ‘visible’ to everyone.
Momentarily, we can take a panoramic look at
what we need to accomplish. We must live in Example: During the early part of the 20th cen-
a society. And this society is increasingly mul- tury, every citizen living in the Chicago area
tinational, practically multi-everything. So the was taxed involuntarily; even unknowingly.
issue, I would suggest, is one of governance: And the beneficiary organizations did not use
30 31Humans on Mars and beyond GOVERNANCE ON MARS
that tax revenue for the public benefit. How? This type of example can be expanded. But we
Simple: must not lose sight of the task at hand.
A series of extra-legal organizations started Perhaps a methodology course may be employed
charging ‘protection money’ from the basic to teach Critical Thinking.
necessity providers to the population. The green
grocer had to pay two or-three pennies a head That may form the bases of following a meth-
of lettuce; butcher was assessed another per- odology of thought processes. After all, ration-
item amount, and so on. Those who declined ality versus emotional thinking need to be
to pay the said tax, saw their businesses utterly, separated. Wishes cannot become reality on
physically destroyed. Of course, those ‘cost of the bases of wishing alone. Reiterations help.
doing business’ items were passed on to the Or, does any of the above need to be aban-
consumer by the green grocer and the butcher. doned, for a full surrender?
The collected amounts ended in the pockets of
the collecting organization’s boss. And those But, how do the people “on the street” be edu-
amounts were not spent for the good of the cated in this manner? By sending everyone
people who paid them. back to school? Design and make available
on-line courses? Does everyone have access to
Is this method of secret taxation still continuing? online mode of communication?
And, not only in Chicago, and not only con-
fined to foodstuffs? At the moment, most Students I can recall over
the years (I personally grappled with this very
How do we know this and what do we do issue in several universities over the past three
with the information? The requisite research decades, both public and private) do not fully
skills must necessarily accompany the Critical understand the meaning of ‘critical’ in the
Thinking methodology. first instance. Would ‘Rational Thinking’ help
32 33Humans on Mars and beyond GOVERNANCE ON MARS
obtain more effective results? Especially when “direct the fantasies?” Surely not. Would that
a Student earnestly responded to the question not be thought control?
with the statement:
Governance on Mars, as long as the colonizers
“I think I will get a cup of coffee; that is critical are from Earth, will evolve according to what
thinking; I critically need coffee.” Earthlings have done since the dawn of history.
Colonies have been formed on Earth, much
This is at a time when a good portion of “people like those to be formed on Mars and beyond.
on the street” are living in virtual fantasy worlds. The experience has been quite expensive and
They buy imaginary islands, earn make-believe painful. Each and every possible type of gov-
fortunes, live the life of a galactically wealthy ernance mode has been devised, applied and
person in the universe. Then, something funny discarded at one time. Adding new technology
happens. The virtual and actual start clashing. into the mix, for example, in the course of reviv-
The monthly bills still need to be paid in hard ing fascism, does not constitute a new mode
currency, as opposed to the currency accumu- of governance; only makes the suffering of the
lated in the fantasy world. masses greater.
A society needs, inter alia, goals in order to sur- Over time, even the discarded ones (for exam-
vive.9 Those goals can be provided in the form ple, dictatorship of one person or committee)
of virtual fantasies, before the so influenced have been resuscitated by eager minorities
individuals start taking their cues from those wishing to jump their places in History, until
fantasies to provide the reality. Therefore, we re-buried by the painful efforts of the masses, at
need not prevent fantasies. Do we endeavor to horrendous costs.
9 HB Paksoy, “Toplum Olarak Varilmak Istenen Sonuc Nedir?” Have not those masses themselves were mis-
Dusuncelerin Kokenleri (Florence: European University Institute/ directed at one time? As, for example, in the
Carrie, 2006)
34 35Humans on Mars and beyond
French Revolution? Quite likely. But all that was
out in the open, in full gaze. And that helps to
draw the lessons for humanity not to repeat the
errors.
Humanities
on Mars
HB Paksoy
I t is necessary to have mastery of sciences for a
voyage to Mars. Finances cannot be ignored
either. But, after that, what? Why generate
the related technology and for what purpose?
Are only the computers going to live in a new
colony to be established on Mars?
Since 1960s, there has been a gradual change
in the educations patterns. Instead of learning
how humans get along with each other, now only
‘learning money-making’ skills are preferred.
Nothing wrong with that, is there? But, the
question then becomes, ‘how to make money
without human relations.’ Can computers
36 37Humans on Mars and beyond Humanities on Mars
make money without humans? What would on money-making? Do I understand, those
the computers buy with money? Electricity? persons are now trying to hide those lessons by
diverting attention away from humanities and
Humans always existed in all varieties from evil into technology?
to angelic. They have permanently been a
squabbling bunch at best. Some managed “Critical thinking” is one aim of humanities.
to put on paper their personal experiences. One must comparatively audit what one has
Others distilled all their knowledge and put it been learned. This lesson was first learned
on paper as a warning to future generations, by humanist members of the Christian Church,
describing types of behavior to avoid. Yet oth- and rather painfully. Erasmus (October 28,
ers wrote their pure criminal thoughts under the 1466 – July 12, 1536) was one who practiced
guise of guidebooks. A sampling of those writ- it very carefully with Kings, Popes and Princes.
ings can teach a youngster what lurks behind His weapon was most often cloaked in humor.
the faces they might see on their computer And, a delightful humor it is. An earlier person
screens. Whether or not they like it, the person to mention is Wycliffe (c. 1328 – December 31,
appearing on a computer screen belongs to the 1384). He was an academic theologian and
human race. As such, that person possesses member of the Church; his efforts were much
all the frailties described in earlier books. more arduous and met with severe opposition
from the religious hierarchy, but met with secu-
Now, all those experiences, knowledge and lar support from the Crown. Among his other
wicked thoughts have been accumulating for activities, he led the translation of the Bible into
several thousand years in books. They aid us English to make it available for the masses. Jan
in understanding the human nature. Money- Hus (c. 1369 – July 6, 1415) was influenced
making secrets are hidden in the pages, wait- by Wycliffe, a member of the clergy, and in
ing to be discovered. Wait! Did someone turn, influenced Martin Luther (November 10,
actually read them and learn all those secrets 1483 – February 18, 1546). In the case of
38 39Humans on Mars and beyond Humanities on Mars
Wycliffe, a special Synod was convened to try supported by evidence, based on lessons of con-
him. It did not yield the results desired by the sequences. The majority of the students were
Church. However, the Council of Constance in resistant. The reason was simple: they were
1415 declared him a heretic for his activities; in college, because they were told, having a
the Church had his bones exhumed and burnt on degree would cause them to receive a promo-
1428 and his ashes were cast into river Swift. tion, a higher salary. They were not interested
That was more than forty years after he had in the details! I finally made a “deal” with my
died. Jan Hus was not spared; after several students: when they earned their first million,
trials by the Church, he was burnt alive on July they would give me one percent. Why? Simple:
6, 1415 on the Rhine River. Martin Luther was because, in my Humanities class (though it was
tried, too. However, he was being protected sugarcoated, and called something else) they
by the German Princes, because, Luther was learned critical thinking. And, besides luck,
against paying ten percent of the lands’ income critical thinking is the first requirement to make
to the Pope as tithe. The activities, thoughts and money. And, during my tenure at that institu-
principles of these men may be taken as mark- tion, one student that we knew of made his first
ers for the beginning of a ‘free thought’ period million after being tooled in my famed class.
by all humans. Wycliffe’s On Universals: Did he give me my one percent, as agreed?
Tractatus De Universalibus is one of the No. He was too busy, on his way to make
early attempts at shearing the clothing of truth his second million. He had learned the secret.
to get at the meat. Luther made the Bible avail- And, his classmates knew the score, if not the
able to the common people. Hus bridged the methods.
two by opposing doctrinal thinking.
In an on-the-ground classroom, it is more plau-
I taught humanities for a number of years sible to influence the minds of the students than
under various ‘guises.’ In those courses, my in on-line classes. Human interaction matters.
main point was always teaching how to think, In on-line classes, the students invariably turn
40 41Humans on Mars and beyond Humanities on Mars
sultrier, since there is no direct human contact; one billion requires going into politics. If you
the instructor cannot look into the eyes of the stu- wish to have more, then you must start a war.
dents. The human speech is not heard; quite a
bit of irony is lost in written words. The student Wars have more results than simply making
motive is the same: a college degree will earn money. Moreover, the combatants do not
them higher salaries, perhaps one hundred dol- always need to be from other nations, polities.
lars more per month: A state can wage war on her citizens as well.
That war may or may not involve firearms.
They come to believe that, everything needs Technology can be used in more than one way:
to work lock-step so that they (Students) can
reach their goals on their own schedules. For Historical evidence shows that, there has been,
the purpose, the Students fall into the deadliest throughout history, it is possible to observe a
educational trap: expecting set answers to set continuous contention between the individual
questions. The meaning is clear: The Student and the polity identities. This intra-communal
is submitting to the will of the higher author- bifurcation manifests itself in all activities of
ity, for the sake of making more money. Will human endeavor, including economic, politi-
that behavior also just as easily transfer to the cal and personal versus sovereign states rights.
political will of higher authority? To induce However, never before the role of technology
the Students to unthinkingly repeat the painful has been elevated to the present level, contest-
atrocities of the past, because they were not ing all comers, to reach absolute supremacy.
taught them? 10 This contention is not only to replace previous
holders of levers to rule or dictate, but to reach
Perhaps that student remembered my three-sen- levels of control heretofore unknown. Obviously,
tence economics lesson: if you wish to earn a technology, without human guidance, cannot
million dollars, go into business. Amassing achieve a result. Left unchecked, any govern-
10 HB Paksoy, “Online or University Education,” Entelequia. Revista ing strata can utilize the technological means
Interdisciplinar, 10, Fall 2009. Pp. 167-175.
42 43Humans on Mars and beyond Humanities on Mars
to deny any segment of society the individual crats in London knew that, injecting more British
rights that have been at least philosophically Money or credit instruments would cause the
established.11 colony outshine the mother. The bureaucrats
and politicians were right. The Colonials had
The above examples of Wycliffe, Hus and Luther the burning desire to have material goods, and
have demonstrated that point. What about that drove them to build an industrial base. But,
here and now? Are we repeating the errors to do that, they fought a war or two against their
of the Roman Empire, the errors that caused the mother country to become and remain inde-
collapse of the state? What were those errors? pendent. Centuries later, ironically enough,
Since the Roman Empire is so well documented, that industrial base saved the very existence of
through their writers and historians, we may Great Britain during Second World War.
hazard a few basic points.12 When the British
Empire ‘expelled’ the puritans in early 17th cen- At this point, the question may be asked if the
tury, what was the reason? Great Britain was humanism equals capitalism. The answer can
a Mercantilist polity, which is both an economic be gleaned from the history of humanism. It
and political system. When the immigrants is not necessary to construct a theory first and
arrived in the new colony of America, over search for evidence and arguments to support
time, they prospered in a proportion they were it. We need not search for long. Chinese
not allowed in England. Under Mercantilism, Communist Party is peerless, yet, the same
not just anybody could amass wealth; it is a Communist Party encouraged Capitalism as
privilege of a certain class. To further develop, a means of unleashing individual energies of
the Colonial Americans (among them, Puritans) their nation. The success of that policy is vis-
needed to have a “measure;” a device called ible. Up to the Chinese application of mixing
money or credit instruments. But, the bureau- Communism with Capitalism, nobody thought
11 HB Paksoy, “Leviathan: Identity Interactions between Society and that both systems could live together in a sin-
Technology”, Entelequia. Revista Interdisciplinar, 2006, issue
2. Pp. 157-162. gle polity. That event underlined what I had
12 HB Paksoy, Imperialism on Mars.
44 45Humans on Mars and beyond Humanities on Mars
been stating in my classes for decades: it is not the German laborers must take weeks (up to
the name of the political system that is impor- six) of annual holiday. They cannot exchange
tant, but the application of it. For example, that time-off for money. The workforce has the
in modern textbooks, ‘democracy’ is held at right to be represented at all levels of corpo-
the most revered position among administra- rate governance; the social security system is
tive systems, while Communism occupies the in place. All those were first enacted during
loathed last. Do the Constitutions matter? the time of Bismarck, who was neither a lib-
Perhaps not. England does not have a writ- eral nor a humanist. Bismarck had the aim of
ten Constitution, while the Soviet Union had the establishing the German Empire. He knew he
most liberal one. England even set aside a needed a war to effect that, for which purpose,
Speaker’s Corner in London to voice any and all he needed the Junkers constituting the Prussian
thoughts freely, while the Soviets did not want Parliament to pass seven year military budgets.
their citizens of many nationalities to even think All that tumult caused by Marxist thoughts was
any thoughts besides what their Politburo saw distracting from his long-term plans. And the
fit. While the Nordic countries are all mon- Junkers at the Parliament were not necessar-
archies, unlike the monarchies of the old, they ily aware of Bismarck’s desires, nor did they
are the most liberal and democratic polities. wish to pay for them essentially out of their own
And the most “Democratic” of the nations, as pockets. So, Bismarck encouraged the lab-
defined by their official designations as well as orers to unionize and have the union leaders
the verbiage of their constitutions, turned out to come forward to participate in management.
be police states. That not only prevented costly strikes, but also
constituted a political power to be wielded by
Today, Germany is often pointed out as the Bismarck against the Junkers. So, humanism,
most humane of the industrialized countries in that particular case, did not come about for
in the treatment of laborers. That is, because humanistic purposes. Or, did it?
46 47Humans on Mars and beyond Humanities on Mars
As a concept, democracy has been viewed and ernance by acquainting themselves with the
described in many different directions. In the basic principles as well as the details?
original sense it was used in the city where it is
said to herald democracy only, applied to one We are said to be living in a classless society. Is
tenth of the population who were both free and that true? Some years ago, I had witnessed an
citizens. The remainder of that city’s popula- exchange between a well-known professional
tion was slaves, devoid of any rights. Only the athlete and his attorney. The attorney needed
slave owners had political rights. Even then, some decisions from the athlete as to how best
they had to own property to exercise those manage the athlete’s money. The athlete’s
rights. Similar restrictions were also imported response was: “In college courses, I learned
into the American Colonies. Some of those that the rich royalty had slaves to do everything
restrictions found their way into innocuous-look- for them. Now, you are the slave. You bring
ing pieces of legislature after the Civil War, to me the highest returns. I will play pool and
perpetuate a separation of owner and slave, get drunk while you do.” Unfortunately, that
despite the Emancipation Decree. So, who is athlete finally went bankrupt later on. I never
going to audit the activities of the Legislature, was curious if the attorney embezzled money
the Judiciary and the Executive Branches? That or if it was because the athlete squandered his
can only be done by the very people who gave money. The athlete’s attitude was, regardless,
their consent to be governed by a representa- the main culprit. Similarly, when the popu-
tive government. But, is that very people, as lation abdicates their rights to audit the repre-
individuals or as groups, aware of their duties sentatives which they elected, they may find
for their very own benefit? They may grum- themselves bankrupt. Except, in their case, it
ble when the taxes are raised, or restrictions may also mean losing their country or their own
on this-and-that are placed on them. Are they freedoms, or both.
aware that they can change the course of gov-
48 49Humans on Mars and beyond Humanities on Mars
Not only the Declaration of Independence of possessed two impellent causes: religious fer-
1776, but also the Bill of Rights, appended to vor and lust for money. In fact, it may not
the Constitution of the United States, are among have been possible at all times to make a dis-
the primary documents of Humanities. Is it tinction between the two. At this point, it may
possible to change the contents of those docu- be suitable to ask the question: “what causes
ments by the actions of the Legislative, Judicial the various nations to race each other to reach
or Executive Branches? What would induce a Mars?” So far, the reason(s) can be summa-
government to circumvent the liberties hard-won rized as ranging from “humans are meant to
earlier by the population? Usually a regime- explore the universe” to “why not?” Until the
change is the cause. It has happened before. Twentieth Century, there were nomadic groups
A regime that wishes to squeeze the last cop- in Asia who moved their residential locations
per coin from the population, and forbid any every six months. They lived high up on moun-
political activity against the “new” government, tainous plateaus during the summer and in val-
will attempt to rescind the individual rights of leys during the winter. For the duration of their
their citizens. But, what about on Mars; what absence, the grass grew anew for their animals,
kind of administration will Mars have? It is not ready for their return the next season. So, the
difficult to find constitutions written for the puta- race to Mars perhaps is based on similar rea-
tive Martian colonies. However, the authors sons: when the natural resources of the Earth
of those constitutions are not members of agen- are exhausted, or the water becomes undrink-
cies who actually will facilitate the application able, and so on, there can be another loca-
of an administration on Mars. Therefore, all tion to sustain human life. But, whatever the
such drafts may be ignored, and some scien- reason, can the humans live without humanity,
tific document may be substituted instead. wherever they might be? That is, unless surro-
gate humans, be it robots or others, are tasked
When the Europeans arrived in the newly to live on Mars without any humans. Whether
‘discovered’ continent of the Americas, they or not the ‘designed virtual humans’ emanate
50 51Humans on Mars and beyond Humanities on Mars
from the same country, or from competing com- choices. The designers, on the other
panies, there will be competition among them: hand, will introduce emotional entries
and partialities into the software, reflect-
1. The designer communities are hard at work ing their own intractable preferences.13
in creating computer systems which will in
turn design virtual humans. These virtual In the event where the “virtual humans” and
humans will need to have Identities. Will real “humans” co-exist on Mars, there may be
these virtual humans brag about their cre- conflicts between the two entities. It is easy
ators, claim that their humans were more for us to imagine that the humans will always
intelligent than the humans of another win over the pseudo-human anthropomorphic
brand? beings. But, we must also remind ourselves
that the virtual humans will be designed by
2. Or worse, will the virtual humans imme- other humans, with their own, personal ambi-
diately set out to battle each other, for tions. Can they not program those ambitions
primacy over resources? After all, the into their own images? Would that not create
humans are creating these virtual humans a competition, and even warfare between the
in their own images, biases and fragilities. humans and the pseudo-humans? Does that
mean that there will be a different set of laws
3. Computers are already designed, built for the robots or computers performing tasks
and programmed to have very specific previously only in the domain of humans? Or,
serial numbers. They can already identify will there be treaties and requirements not to
each other by hardware (nalburiye) and program any ambitions into the “machines?”
software (tuhafiye). Is it now—or will it ever be—possible to stop
the progress of technology?
4. The current heuristic software can adapt 13 HB Paksoy, Chapter 11: Technological and Future Identities in
to the physical conditions and physical IDENTITIES: How Governed, Who Pays? (Malaga: Entelequia,
2006) 2nd edition.
52 53Humans on Mars and beyond Humanities on Mars
Technology will always progress. But, all pos- much of their humanity will they keep? Will
sible governance models have already been they still be members of the human race? Will
tried on earth. Most of those models have they be able to express independent thoughts
failed. So, more humanistic models had to be or will they be programmable in every aspect
tried as a last resort; after all, governance must at all times? Will these chumans serve as the
be maintained in order to have polities. Was loyal servants of their creators, and suppress
the switch always voluntary on the part of the the humans to be used as the old serfs were
human populations? Certainly not; the proc- used? More importantly, how will the future
ess was often bloody, with both the members of chumans be selected? Will it be a voluntary
the administrative organs and members of the submission, or will the children be selected on
population losing members to the grim reaper. a suitability bases? Will the permission of
Was the switch done because the earlier gov- the parents matter? Can the chumans be as
ernance model was not humanistic enough? If creative as the humans, originating new ideas
the population is unhappy, sooner-or-later, they or products?
will move on the cause of their unhappiness.
At that point, some of the old governance
As of late, there has been talk of “Chipped problems, despite the new technology, will re-
Humans.” That is, experimental electronic emerge: How will the designers of chumans
chips of various kinds have been implanted know that all chuman designers will remain
into the central nervous system of a number of loyal to the programs? If that will not be the
human volunteers. The current assumption is case, will there not be fights and even wars
that, with these devices, a central computer can between the chumans of different designers
issue instructions and the chipped humans will and agencies? In short, despite the ambitions
follow those instructions to the letter. Does of designer communities and their financiers,
that combination make a different species of the art of governance is not likely to settle down
humans, which we may call chumans? How to a tranquil Sunday afternoon.
54 55You can also read
