Towards the Sociology of the Universe – The Great Sociology Debate * * * Index
*What does modern sociology have to say about human expansion into space, and how do those promoting spaceflight respond to this?* On 8 September 2010 the British Interplanetary Society in London hosted an evening lecture entitled “How should we humanise outer space?”. The presenters of that lecture, Peter Dickens and James S. Ormrod, are university lecturers in sociology, and have written a book on the subject: Cosmic Society: Towards a Sociology of the Universe (Routledge, 2007). The resulting exchange of views was vigorous and heated. It became clear that two incompatible cultures were confronting each other. The following debate was one result: A Review of Dickens and Ormrod, Cosmic Society, by Stephen Ashworth, Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society Towards the Sociology of a Universal Society, by Stephen Ashworth A Reply to the Above Review of Cosmic Society, by Dr James S. Ormrod, University of Brighton Provisional conclusions, by Stephen Ashworth It is my hope that my posting of these strongly worded exchanges on the web will stimulate greater understanding of the issues involved! S.A.
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Towards the Sociology of the Universe –

The Great Sociology Debate

* * *

Index

What does modern sociology have to say about human expansion into space, and how do those promoting spaceflight respond to this?

On 8 September 2010 the British Interplanetary Society in London hosted an evening lecture entitled “How should we humanise outer space?”. The presenters of that lecture, Peter Dickens and James S. Ormrod, are university lecturers in sociology, and have written a book on the subject: Cosmic Society: Towards a Sociology of the Universe (Routledge, 2007).

The resulting exchange of views was vigorous and heated. It became clear that two incompatible cultures were confronting each other. The following debate was one result:

A Review of Dickens and Ormrod, Cosmic Society, by Stephen Ashworth, Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society

Towards the Sociology of a Universal Society, by Stephen Ashworth

A Reply to the Above Review of Cosmic Society, by Dr James S. Ormrod, University of Brighton

Provisional conclusions, by Stephen Ashworth

It is my hope that my posting of these strongly worded exchanges on the web will stimulate greater understanding of the issues involved!

S.A.