Panopticon on Mars

Abstract

Our advancing technologies should soon enable us to leave Earth and start a new, extraterrestrial life, perhaps on Mars. Although it has been suggested that it is unethical to go and conquer planets we are not made for, this can be avoided by implementing new ethical norms. It can also be argued that we can prevent ethically questionable methods of striving towards our new way of living by technological means, and also by building a new type of society. The main ethical dilemmas that humanity will face on Mars are discussed and a new concept that answers many ethical questions, and which could potentially make human life on Mars less vulnerable, is presented. Panopticon is a disciplinary concept which enables the form of central observation. Not entirely ethical on Earth, it could serve as a good compromise for living in a small society in extraterrestrial and lethal conditions. It seems reasonable that humans can practice virtue ethics on Mars and that an up-dated Panopticon concept can preserve humanity. The Panopticon provides a social mechanism for the very first Martian spaceship, a safe haven that complies with all the ethical considerations avoiding violation of autonomy, bodily autonomy, liberty, and freedom of movement. Consequently, this new social model could help prevent tyranny and other forms of injustice on Mars. Panopticon technology should also enable people who cannot afford to pay for a flight to Mars to participate. Keywords: Panopticon, Freedom of Movement, Liberty, Autonomy,Tyranny, Virtue Ethics