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Astrotopia

The Dangerous Religion of the Corporate Space Race

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1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
A revealing look at the parallel mythologies behind the colonization of Earth and space—and a bold vision for a more equitable, responsible future both on and beyond our planet.

As environmental, political, and public health crises multiply on Earth, we are also at the dawn of a new space race in which governments team up with celebrity billionaires to exploit the cosmos for human gain. The best-known of these pioneers are selling different visions of the future: while Elon Musk and SpaceX seek to establish a human presence on Mars, Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin work toward moving millions of earthlings into rotating near-Earth habitats. Despite these distinctions, these two billionaires share a core utopian project: the salvation of humanity through the exploitation of space.

In Astrotopia, philosopher of science and religion Mary-Jane Rubenstein pulls back the curtain on the not-so-new myths these space barons are peddling, like growth without limit, energy without guilt, and salvation in a brand-new world. As Rubenstein reveals, we have already seen the destructive effects of this frontier zealotry in the centuries-long history of European colonialism. Much like the imperial project on Earth, this renewed effort to conquer space is presented as a religious calling: in the face of a coming apocalypse, some very wealthy messiahs are offering an other-worldly escape to a chosen few. But Rubenstein does more than expose the values of capitalist technoscience as the product of bad mythologies. She offers a vision of exploring space without reproducing the atrocities of earthly colonialism, encouraging us to find and even make stories that put cosmic caretaking over profiteering.
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    • Library Journal

      November 1, 2022

      Does the privatization of space travel mean that society is giving control of space exploration to capitalism? Does referring to space as the "final frontier" intimate a manifest destiny similar to the colonization of the Americas? Rubenstein's (religion and science, Wesleyan Univ.; Pantheologies) latest (which is also categorized under "religion") contemplates topics as wide-ranging and seemingly unrelated as philosophy, literature, religion, ecology, government, and, of course, space science. The author argues that believing in the potential utopias described by rich men, such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, is hazardous. Rubenstein says the same forces that impact the societies here on Earth will undoubtedly influence any civilization humans manage to develop off-planet, including religion and politics--and all the prejudices that come with those philosophies and beliefs. VERDICT A singular perspective on space technology, with unexpected comparisons to colonialism that will make readers think twice about the future of humanity on other planets.--Jennifer Moore

      Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      November 1, 2022
      To many, the current corporate space race signals the dawn of a cosmic renaissance that will eventually lead to humans colonizing new worlds. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson, multibillionaires all, ushered in this "Newspace" age, in which "public and private interests are both cooperating and competing." Settling on the moon or Mars or mining asteroids may ostensibly seem thrilling, perhaps even necessary for the future of our species and our planet. But as Rubenstein, professor of religion and science in society at Wesleyan University, argues, conquering the final frontier can also be perceived as pernicious, unjust, and following an ideology Trump referred to as "manifest destiny in the stars." Rubenstein connects Newspace and "astrosaviors" to mythology, imperialist Christianity, and capitalism. In the process, she underscores age-old tales of the privileged selling unobtainable dreams to the masses, of the wealthy transforming unspoiled nature into treasure chests of riches, and of the powerful promoting a story of "domination hidden under lofty religious language." Astrotopia is superb and will fascinate anyone curious about the current space fervor.

      COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Kirkus

      October 15, 2022
      A polemical critique of traditional Western economic, scientific, and religious dominance as it relates to space exploration. Rubenstein, professor of religion and science in society at Wesleyan, lends fresh energy to a familiar debate about the value of space programs, dreams of mining the solar system, and colonizing the moon and Mars. Her core arguments are largely unassailable: that lofty visions of extraplanetary development by Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and their fellow space cowboys would export the worst of our exploitative and commodifying impulses, much of it underwritten by taxpayers; that such obscene wealth could be better deployed to constructive ends on Earth; and that a more ethical, environmental approach to space is not only possible, but beneficial to more than the few. She marshals diverse scientific and historical evidence to buttress her case. Yet her sweeping exaggerations, withering criticisms of capitalism as evil, and recounting of the wretched history of European and U.S. plundering of the Americas become a seething ideological rant unlikely to sway those who otherwise might be receptive. While democratic socialism has its virtues, Rubenstein renders it as a world-saving manifesto. She insists that the only way to halt environmental degradation on Earth (and prevent its repetition in space) is to disavow the darker tenets of Christianity, rationality, and the profit motive and embrace the more benevolent, life-affirming worldview of Indigenous, Afrofuturist, and feminist thought. She is persuasive about our destructive myths, but the lecturing tone smacks of diatribe and serves little purpose apart from letting Rubenstein blow off steam. Most readers will agree that the universe is not there for us to do with as we see fit, nor is the Earth, but regarding rocks as having "personhood" gets a little strained. The author seeks to replace one flawed utopian vision with an idealized, likely unattainable one. The author has her moments, but there is simply too much pie in the sky to her prescription.

      COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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