After Contact

The Human Response To Extraterrestrial Life

By: Albert Harrison

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Paperback | 1 October 2002 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

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384 Pages

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2.2 x 13.7 x 21.7

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Albert Harrison examines in detail the psychological, sociological, political, and cultural dimensions of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. By so doing, he firmly establishes that the behavioral and social sciences are as integral to the search as are the physical and biological sciences that have dominated the field up to now. This book offers a useful conceptual framework for rational discussion of extraterrestrial life forms, and provides a detailed analysis of likely human reactions to the detection of extraterrestrial life. Among the many examples that Harrison develops are: how psychological, social, and cultural factors shape people's views about the likelihood of intelligent extraterrestrials and the value of undertaking the search; how our understanding of life on Earth provides a useful framework for thinking about life elsewhere in our galaxy; how historical precedents give us a basis for forecasting human response to "contact"; how agencies such as the CIA inadvertently strengthen the impression of "government cover-up"; and why there is little risk that we will run afoul of an "evil empire." Harrison sketches our responses to the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence as individuals, as nations, and as humanity, and concludes that we have good reason for cautious optimism about the progress of the search and the aftermath of contact.

Industry Reviews

"Thought-provoking...A social and cultural road map to help readers grapple with the possibility that humans are not alone in the universe."

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Mind, Body, Spirit Unexplained Phenomena & the Paranormal UFOs & Extraterrestrial Beings Miscellaneous Items Science Science in General

Preface	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. xi
the Enormous Challenge	p. 1
Conclusion	p. 26
Listening	p. 29
Conclusion	p. 62
False Alarms	p. 65
Conclusion	p. 90
Living Systems	p. 95
Conclusion	p. 119
Organisms	p. 121
Conclusion	p. 144
Societies	p. 147
Conclusion	p. 170
Supranational Systems	p. 173
Conclusion	p. 193
First Impressions	p. 197
Conclusion	p. 223
Initial Impact	p. 225
Building Relationships	p. 251
Conclusion	p. 275
the Rocky Road to Utopia	p. 277
Conclusion	p. 298
Betting with the Optimists	p. 301
Conclusion	p. 322
References	p. 325
Index	p. 351
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

After Contact

The Human Response To Extraterrestrial Life

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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