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The liquidators of worlds: I thought Konstantin Tsiolkovsky about the future of humanity
Material posted: Publication date: 22-09-2017
17 September marks 160 years since the birth of the great Russian thinker Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. Long before the advent of practical Astronautics, he developed the theory of human flight to the stars using multi-stage rockets and space stations. However, the exploration of space self-educated scientist considered only the first step towards a dazzling future of humanity. About futuristic visions of Tsiolkovsky on the development and improvement of our civilization at RT.

The contribution of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, a science known to every schoolboy. Teacher from Kaluga, a scientist and self-taught became one of the pioneers of theoretical Astronautics, he owns many of the practices which today are used in rocket science. In particular, Tsiolkovsky was the author of the idea of multi-stage rockets and space stations.

The conquest of space was not for him an end in itself. A scientist has developed a complex system of views on the future of humanity, in which space travel was only part of a broad program of domination of our civilization in the Universe.

Eaters of the sun

Tsiolkovsky was an avid fan of eugenics teachings about improvement of the human nature by controlling heredity. Such views were popular in the early twentieth century.

Reproduction of the painting "Tsialkovsky. Windy day in Kaluga" RIA Novosti

Human Tsiolkovsky considered "half-animal", which also in social development is inferior to the ants and the bees. However, he was sure that the space is already home to significantly more advanced beings who look at humanity like we look at rats.

Only the development of science, according to Tsiolkovsky, will reveal to mankind the way to a brighter future. Stop war, people will have control over the climate, will be solved the problems of hunger, because on the Earth there will be places unsuitable for agriculture. And then mankind will jump into space first populated the Solar system and then beyond.
Further utopia Tsiolkovsky begins to move smoothly in space combat fiction with elements of a technocratic dystopia.

For life on other planets, people will need to develop their public and individual properties to bring such "breed" of human that will be able to live in different atmospheres and other unearthly conditions.

"It's a very diverse breed perfect: fit for life in different atmospheres, different gravity on different planets suitable for existence in the void or in a rarefied gas, living food and living without it — some sunlight, creatures that carry the heat, creatures that carry the cold, carrying a sharp and significant changes in temperature. However, the ruling will be the most perfect type of organism that lives in the air and is powered directly by solar energy (like a plant)," wrote Tsiolkovsky.

Conquistadors in outer space

World fantasy, since the "War of the worlds" by H. G. wells and ending with Hollywood blockbusters, repeatedly exploited the brutal aliens from outer space who enslave or destroy humanity for control over earth's resources, or simply due to the harmful nature.


Postage stamp of the USSR, 1986 © Wikimedia Commons

Tsiolkovsky main cosmic horror for intelligent civilizations believed humanity itself. Perfect, feeding on sunlight, humanity United is a perfect social system, one in its space expansion will encounter other intelligent races. And then imperfect worlds will be "converted".

"Visit and examine all the <...> of the planet. Imperfect worlds eliminate and replace its own population. Where the planets will meet desert or immature ugly world, there is a painless eliminate it, replacing their world," predicted Tsiolkovsky.
Breeding future of humanity perfect Tsiolkovsky suggested the use of the system of sexual selection. Humans are imperfect, a "bad breed", will be deprived of the ability to reproduce. Selected manufacturers, in contrast, will create a new gene pool by engaging for his life in contact with thousands of women, "while all the people do not turn into a prolific handsome, healthy and talented youth".

Deliverance from suffering

However, unlike some "supporters" who lived at one time with Kaluga thinker, Tsiolkovsky considered the removal of the new humanity as non-violent and voluntary process, which aims to relieve people from suffering. Here, his ideas intersect with Buddhist beliefs. Tsiolkovsky, who have experienced various hardships of life and is familiar with Buddhist philosophy, is sought through the embodiment of its ideas to victory over suffering.

"The value of life is to have more joy and less suffering. With the small joy we are reconciled, but with suffering, especially large, never. We are even ready to settle for complete peace of mind, i.e. the fact that neither joy nor suffering," wrote Tsiolkovsky.


Source: https://russian.rt.com/science/article/430983-ciolkovskiy-160-let-futuristicheskie-idei

Tags: Russia , science , space


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