Erik Persson | Lund University (original) (raw)

Books by Erik Persson

Det Gröna Kulturarvet, 2018

This is a book about green heritage. It contains 10 essays, all of which were presented, either o... more This is a book about green heritage. It contains 10 essays, all of
which were presented, either orally or in the form of posters, at
a conference in Eslöv, 19 March 2015. The conference was
organised by Sustainable Development Skåne’s network The
Green Heritage. The Green Heritage network was formed in
2013 by Torrid Bengtsson from the Church of Sweden and
Erik Persson from the Nordic Genetic Resource Center and the
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, both members of
Sustainable Development Skåne’s Board of Directors, together
with Åsa Jakobsson from Kristianstad Regional Museum, with
invaluable help from Helena Thelander, Operations Manager
at Sustainable Development Skåne. These four were also behind
the conference, together with Eva Jansson, Coordinator of the
Programme for Cultivated Diversity at the Swedish University of
Agri cultural Sciences. The Green Heritage network aims to create
a platform for cooperation, inspiration and exchange of knowledge
regarding green heritage. This is done through a constantly
updated mailing list, but also through regular events, sometimes
in the form of field trips and sometimes in the form of meetings
where we discuss some question of current interest or simply
exchange news.

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

There are strong links between astrobiology and environmental concern. Astrobiology is the study ... more There are strong links between astrobiology and environmental concern. Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the universe—including Earth. Understanding life, and in particular the basic conditions for life, is important for our ability to create a sustainable future on Earth. The connection goes both ways, however. The preservation of biodiversity and of pristine environments on Earth is of the greatest importance for our ability to study life, its origin, distribution and future. Of special interest from an astrobiology perspective is the preservation of areas with conditions that can serve as analogues to extraterrestrial environments, areas with conditions similar to those under which life originated on Earth, and in general environments where extreme adaptations can be studied. Astrobiology also presents some direct environmental challenges that need to be considered, namely in the form of forward and back contamination. Both issues need to be approached from a technical perspective, but also from a societal perspective. And both must be understood within a broader context of ensuring the sustainability of practices, both scientific and commercial.

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

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Det Gröna Kulturarvet, 2018

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

This book describes the state of astrobiology in Europe today and its relation to the European so... more This book describes the state of astrobiology in Europe today and its relation to the European society at large. With contributions from authors in more than 20 countries and over 30 scientific institutions worldwide, the document illustrates the societal implications of astrobiology and the positive contribution that astrobiology can make to European society. The book has two main objectives: 1. It recommends the establishment of a European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) as an answer to a series of challenges relating to astrobiology but also European research, education, and society at large. 2. It also acknowledges the societal implications of astrobiology, and thus the role of the social sciences and humanities in optimizing the positive contribution that astrobiology can make to the lives of the people of Europe and the challenges they face. Astrobiology enjoys a great deal of interest among the public, probably more than most of the other fields of research. It also has implications for human life outside the laboratories and lecture halls. It has the potential of being a flagship of European cooperation in science. It provides an ideal ground for collaborative European projects which support the ethos of cooperating countries. Astrobiology is inherently multidisciplinary and based on collaboration between disciplines, universities, and countries. For Europe to take a leading role in this research, it is very important to have a stable structure that can coordinate research, research infrastructure, funding and relations to the surrounding society in an efficient way. The establishment of a EAI, as a consortium of institutions, will provide the perfect forum for such collaborative efforts and should be a key priority for European research institutions as well as the European astrobiology community and the EU. To have an active astrobiology research programme, coordinated and fostered by such an institute, will enhance the international standards of European space research and of European science in general. The EAI would be able to promote astrobiology research, assist in the decision making process of relevant European institutions, be involved in mission planning, engage in science dissemination, education and communication, as well as engaging in outreach and media work in a much more efficient way than individual research institutions. The EAI will act as a strong voice for the astrobiology community in dialogue with decision makers, funding agencies, the media, other stakeholders, and the general public. It will be proactive in the debate on important legal and ethical issues in astrobiology and space research.

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Liv är ett centralt begrepp inom många forskningsområden, exempelvis inom biologi, astrobiologi, ... more Liv är ett centralt begrepp inom många forskningsområden, exempelvis inom biologi, astrobiologi, kemi och medicin, såväl som inom juridik, teologi och filosofi. Liv är också ett centralt tema i konsten. Det behandlas och begrundas i åtskilliga konstverk, i dikt, roman och film. Hur vi skall förstå, värdera och skydda livet, är oerhört fundamentala frågor. I framtiden kommer dessa frågor att bli än svårare och om möjligt ännu viktigare. Forskargrupper från hela världen arbetar idag med att skapa liv i laboratoriet, leta efter liv i rymden och förse maskiner med egenskaper som tidigare bara har varit förunnade levande varelser, och utvecklingen går fort. Det är viktigt att vi samtidigt funderar över de utmaningar som detta innebär. Det kommer att ta tid att hitta sätt att leva i värld där liv finns i former vi idag knappt kan föreställa oss och där gränsen mellan levande varelser och maskiner blir alltmer suddig. De beslut vi fattar idag kommer också att påverka utvecklingen inom samhälle, forskning och utveckling under lång tid framöver.
Den här boken är ett resultat av ett tvärvetenskapligt projekt vid Pufendorfinstitutet, Lunds universitet. Tolv forskare från lika många discipliner har ingått i projektet. Syftet har varit att belysa utmaningar med utomjordiskt, artificiellt och syntetiskt liv. Det tvärvetenskapliga angreppssättet har gett oss möjlighet att belysa frågorna från alla upptänkliga vinklar, men också att hitta helt nya kombinationer av metoder och synsätt. Med tanke på livets mångsidighet och stora betydelse ur så många olika perspektiv, har detta varit helt nödvändigt.
Vår förhoppning är att boken skall inspirera till nya tankar och diskussioner om liv. Boken vänder sig både till som redan är intresserade och de som ännu inte har börjat fundera kring de utmaningar som utomjordiskt, artificiellt och syntetiskt liv innebär.

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The book contains 26 articles in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and English. All texts have summaries... more The book contains 26 articles in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and English. All texts have summaries in English.

The aim of the Nordic Network for the Archaeology and Archaeobotany of Gardening (NTAA) is, as it was phrased those first days in Alnarp in the beginning of March 2010, to: ”bring researchers together from different disciplines to discuss the history, archaeology, archaeobotany and cultivation of gardens and plants”. We had no idea, then, how widely appreciated this initiative would become. The fifth seminar in five years was held on Visingsö June 1-3, 2014 and the sixth seminar will take place in Kristiansand, Norway, June 12-14, 2015.

We are very pleased to be able to publish this report, Sources to the History of Gardening: Four Interdisciplinary Seminars 2010–2013, Arranged By the Nordic Network for the Archaeology and Archaeobotany of Gardening (NTAA), based on the first four themes and seminars, in total 26 articles. Most of them origins from one of the seminar contributions 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively. However, the editorial group has taken the opportunity, with the aim of the network in mind, to add supplementing contributions on some subjects.

The articles are arranged in four themes according to the themes of the seminars. The first theme Archaeological Sources to the History of Gardens and the Cultural Landscape is linked to the first seminar in Alnarp, Sweden, 2010 which had a focus on method, the important connections between archaeology and archaeobotany and the interesting progress within garden archaeology during the last decade.

The second theme Cabbage Patches and Kitchen Gardens deals with the second seminar in Norrköping, Sweden, 2011. Its focus was on historical, cultural geographical, archaeological and archaeobotanical research concerning utility gardens or kitchen gardens as well as the concept ‘kålgård’ (cabbage patch or kale yard), its shape and content over time.

The third theme Cultural and Garden plants: Under Ground, Above Ground, In Herbariums and Archives connects to the third seminar in Uppsala, Sweden, 2012. It focused on sources, source criticism and interdisciplinary research to gain knowledge on the history of garden cultivation and cultural plants. The articles discuss, among other things, herbariums, written sources, DNA and molecular markers, pollen analysis and georadar.

The fourth theme for NTAA’s annual seminar was Cultural Relict Plants and was held on Bornholm, Denmark, 2013. The focus on the seminar was on research and conservation of cultural relict plants, that is cultural plants which have survived in the same place for a long time after the actual cultivation has ceased.

We dedicate this report to Kjell Lundquist (1955-2011) who were one of the initiators to this network and we hope it will inspire continuous research and new methodological discussions

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The aim of the Nordic Network for the Archaeology and Archaeobotany of Gardening (NTAA), as it wa... more The aim of the Nordic Network for the Archaeology and Archaeobotany of Gardening (NTAA), as it was phrased those first days in Alnarp in the beginning of March 2010, is to: ”bring researchers together from different disciplines to discuss the history, archaeology, archaeobotany and cultivation of gardens and plants”. We had no idea, then, how widely appreciated this initiative would become. The fifth seminar in five years was held on Visingsö June 1-3, 2014 and the sixth seminar will take place in Kristiansand, Norway, June 12-14, 2015. We are very pleased to be able to publish this report, Sources to the History of Gardening: Four Interdisciplinary Seminars 2010–2013, Arranged By the Nordic Network for the Archaeology and Archaeobotany of Gardening (NTAA), based on the first four themes and seminars, in total 26 articles. Most of them origins from one of the seminar contributions 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively. However, the editorial group has taken the opportunity, with the aim of the network in mind, to add supplementing contributions on some subjects. The articles are arranged in four themes according to the themes of the seminars. The first theme Archaeological Sources to the History of Gardens and the Cultural Landscape is linked to the first seminar in Alnarp, Sweden, 2010 which had a focus on method, the important connections between archaeology and archaeobotany and the interesting progress within garden archaeology during the last decade. The second theme Cabbage Patches and Kitchen Gardens deals with the second seminar in Norrköping, Sweden, 2011. Its focus was on historical, cultural geographical, archaeological and archaeobotanical research concerning utility gardens or kitchen gardens as well as the concept ‘kålgård' (cabbage patch or kale yard), its shape and content over time. The third theme Cultural and Garden plants: Under Ground, Above Ground, In Herbariums and Archives connects to the third seminar in Uppsala, Sweden, 2012. It focused on sources, source criticism and interdisciplinary research to gain knowledge on the history of garden cultivation and cultural plants. The articles discuss, among other things, herbariums, written sources, DNA and molecular markers, pollen analysis and georadar. The fourth theme for NTAA’s annual seminar was Cultural Relict Plants and was held on Bornholm, Denmark, 2013. The focus on the seminar was on research and conservation of cultural relict plants, that is cultural plants which have survived in the same place for a long time after the actual cultivation has ceased. We dedicate this report to Kjell Lundquist (1955-2011) who were one of the initiators to this network and we hope it will inspire continuous research and new methodological discussions.

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No one really knows the rate by which species go extinct by the hands of human beings. The estima... more No one really knows the rate by which species go extinct by the hands of human beings. The estimations differ,1 but they seem to agree that it is a matter of extreme proportions. According to the Worldwatch Institute, we are now experiencing the worst case of mass extinction since the dinosaurs disappeared 65 million years ago.2 For most of us, this is a depressing insight and many people seem to agree that to knowingly cause or significantly contribute to the extinction of entire species is (at least prima facie) not only bad, but morally wrong. For someone with a philosophic curiosity, the question that immediately arises is: 'Why is it wrong’? Intuitively it seems obviously true that it is wrong, but why is it wrong, and how does it fit with formal ethical theories? These questions are more complicated than they may seem at the first glance and they have been the object of a heated debate among both ethicists and environmentalists. This fact alone should be reason enough to pursue the question, but there are other reasons too. The clearness of and the wide agreement about the intuition that what we are doing is at least prima facie wrong, makes the extinction problem an excellent test case that any theory should be able to deal with in order to be taken seriously as a moral theory. Another quite obvious motivation for studying the question of why it is prima facie wrong to cause extinction, is that a better understanding of the ethical aspects of the extinction problem would increase our chances of dealing with the problem. Bryan G. Norton points out that environmentalists often put much effort in trying to explain why a species is instrumentally important for human beings, and they often use different approaches. This is a ‘strategy’ that usually gives a bad impression however. It also makes it harder to reach the common goal of saving the species.3 Failures of the environmental movement that can be traced back to the difficulties in agreeing on why different species and ecosystems are important enough for us humans to be worth saving, leads Bryan G. Norton to conclude that we need what he labels “a coherent rationale for environmental protection.” This is underlined by Lori Gruen and Dale Jamieson who declare that: It is ironic that the destruction of biodiversity, which may be the greatest of human crimes against nature, is also one of the least understood. We do not have a good philosophical account of why biodiversity matters, and the steps that would have to be taken to protect it are, in the present climate, politically impossible.5 Both Norton’s and Gruen/Jamieson’s remarks, tell us that there is quite a great deal of work to be done in the field, and they also tell us that the work is very important. Finally, the problem of human-caused extinction also seems to be a good battleground for the more general question of what should count as criteria for moral standing. Actually, most of the ethical debate surrounding the extinction problem is concerned with this question, and this will also be salient in this investigation. The present debate around this question is mostly performed in polemic between advocates of holistic theories on the one hand, and advocates of individualistic theories on the other. The advocates of the holistic approach claim that we have moral duties directly to the species. They are primarily concerned that without a direct moral standing for the species, we will have to depend on its the instrumental value for us humans. The individualists on the other hand claim that only individuals can be moral objects. They are sceptical to the holistic approach, and to the possibility of ascribing moral standing to species. They especially find it difficult to comprehend how species can have morally relevant interests for us to consider. This book is the first part of an investigation that will scrutinise both the holistic approach and the individualistic approaches.

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Papers by Erik Persson

International Journal of Astrobiolo, 2024

Astrobiocentrism is a vision that places us in a scenario of confirmation of life in the universe... more Astrobiocentrism is a vision that places us in a scenario of confirmation of life in the universe, either as a second
genesis or as an expansion of humanity in space. It manages to raise consistent arguments in relation to questions
such as what would happen to knowledge if life were confirmed in the universe, how would this change the way
we understand our place in the cosmos? Astrobiocentrism raises a series of reflections in the context of confirmed
discovery, and it develops concepts that work directly with what would happen after irrefutable evidence has been
obtained that we are not alone in space. Unlike biocentrism or ecocentrism, the astrobiocentric view is not limited
to the Earth-centric perspective, and for it incorporates a multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary understanding.
Therefore, the aim of this paper is to make a reflection on the astrobiocentric issues related to the challenges
and problems of the discovery of life in the universe and the expansion of mankind into space. Here we explore
some aspects of the transition from biogeocentrism to astrobiocentrism, astrobiosemiotics, homo mensura, moral
community, planetary sustainability and astrotheology.

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Space Science & Technology , 2023

Nanosatellites are exposed to extreme temperatures on the spacecraft surface, which can reach up ... more Nanosatellites are exposed to extreme temperatures on the spacecraft surface, which can reach up to ±100 °C. In this paper, we suggest a novel solution to this challenge by the use of biomimicry. The imitation of the behavior of living creatures in nature is an attempt to understand and synthesize a natural object or phenomenon in an abstract or concrete form. This inspiration from living things in nature can come through the materials, processes, or designs we see around us, and there is no engineering effort involved. In nature, the best example of temperature reversal is the Pompeii worm. The Pompeii worm realizes the conversion of the excess heat it is exposed to into cooling inside a multilayered tube. In this work, inspired by the strategy of the Pompeii worm in reversing overheating, we present a new model for the overheating problem in nanosatellites.

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AI & SOCIETY

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the responsibility of AI experts for guiding the developm... more The purpose of this paper is to discuss the responsibility of AI experts for guiding the development of AI in a desirable direction. More specifically, the aim is to answer the following research question: To what extent are AI experts responsible in a forward-looking way for effects of AI technology that go beyond the immediate concerns of the programmer or designer? AI experts, in this paper conceptualised as experts regarding the technological aspects of AI, have knowledge and control of AI technology that non-experts do not have. Drawing on responsibility theory, theories of the policy process, and critical algorithm studies, we discuss to what extent this capacity, and the positions that these experts have to influence the AI development, make AI experts responsible in a forward-looking sense for consequences of the use of AI technology. We conclude that, as a professional collective, AI experts, to some extent, are responsible in a forward-looking sense for consequences of use...

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, 2021

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, 2021

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I årtusenden har människan försökt definiera livet – hur levande djur och växter skiljer sig från... more I årtusenden har människan försökt definiera livet – hur levande djur och växter skiljer sig från död materia. Problemet är dock att livet är mångfacetterat, och varje regel har sitt undantag. Vi försöker möta kommande utmaningar med nya livsformer, genom att lyfta fram en ny definition av liv

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Det Gröna Kulturarvet, 2018

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

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Det Gröna Kulturarvet, 2018

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

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We dedicate this report to Kjell Lundquist (1955-2011) who were one of the initiators to this network and we hope it will inspire continuous research and new methodological discussions

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International Journal of Astrobiolo, 2024

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Space Science & Technology , 2023

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AI & SOCIETY

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, 2021

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, 2021

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, 2021

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Om människan någon gång kommer att få förmågan att skapa nya livsformer, hur kommer det att påver... more Om människan någon gång kommer att få förmågan att skapa nya livsformer, hur kommer det att påverka livets värde? Detta är en fråga som kan vara en källa till oro när man diskuterar konstgjort liv, men är oron befogad? I ett försök att svara på den frågan kommer jag att gå igenom några möjliga skäl till varför förmågan att skapa konstgjort liv skulle hota livets värde, och se om de verkligen ger oss skäl att oroa oss

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Liv är ett centralt begrepp inom många forskningsområden, exempelvis inom biologi, astrobiologi, ... more Liv är ett centralt begrepp inom många forskningsområden, exempelvis inom biologi, astrobiologi, kemi och medicin, såväl som inom juridik, teologi och filosofi. Liv är också ett centralt tema i konsten. Det behandlas och begrundas i åtskilliga konstverk, i dikt, roman och film. Hur vi skall förstå, värdera och skydda livet, är oerhört fundamentala frågor. I framtiden kommer dessa frågor att bli än svårare och om möjligt ännu viktigare. Forskargrupper från hela världen arbetar idag med att skapa liv i laboratoriet, leta efter liv i rymden och förse maskiner med egenskaper som tidigare bara har varit förunnade levande varelser, och utvecklingen går fort. Det är viktigt att vi samtidigt funderar över de utmaningar som detta innebär. Det kommer att ta tid att hitta sätt att leva i värld där liv finns i former vi idag knappt kan föreställa oss och där gränsen mellan levande varelser och maskiner blir alltmer suddig. De beslut vi fattar idag kommer också att påverka utvecklingen inom samhälle, forskning och utveckling under lång tid framöver. Den här boken är ett resultat av ett tvärvetenskapligt projekt vid Pufendorfinstitutet, Lunds universitet. Tolv forskare från lika många discipliner har ingått i projektet. Syftet har varit att belysa utmaningar med utomjordiskt, artificiellt och syntetiskt liv. Det tvärvetenskapliga angreppssättet har gett oss möjlighet att belysa frågorna från alla upptänkliga vinklar, men också att hitta helt nya kombinationer av metoder och synsätt. Med tanke på livets mångsidighet och stora betydelse ur så många olika perspektiv, har detta varit helt nödvändigt. Vår förhoppning är att boken skall inspirera till nya tankar och diskussioner om liv. Boken vänder sig både till som redan är intresserade och de som ännu inte har börjat fundera kring de utmaningar som utomjordiskt, artificiellt och syntetiskt liv innebär.

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, 2021

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Environmental Ethics, 2019

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Human Governance Beyond Earth, 2015

When the time comes to decide how to govern an extraterrestrial settlement there will be many alt... more When the time comes to decide how to govern an extraterrestrial settlement there will be many alternatives to chose from. We will have the opportunity to try new and so far untested theories, but there are also some old forms of government that might be tempting to try again. We might for instance let the company whose activities on the world are the reason for the establishment govern the settlement. This has been tried before on our own planet both because it was seen as convenient and as an incentive for colonisation. In this chapter I will ask what this solution would mean for the civil liberty of the settlers. To answer the question I will look at some historical analogues and have a philosophical discussion. The conclusion is that a settlement governed by a body whose sole reason for existence is to make money for the owners, that is led by a board that answers only to the owners and not to the people, that functions as both government and sole employer, and that has the unlimited power over the life support systems necessary for the survival of the settlers will not be a good basis for civil liberties.

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Value, Morality & Social Reality, 2023

Invasive alien species are frequently discussed in academic literature by practitioners, governme... more Invasive alien species are frequently discussed in academic literature by practitioners, government agencies, and popular media, but what does it mean for a species to be alien and why it this seen as a bad thing? To answer these questions, I have analysed texts about invasive alien species in academic journals and in communication from government agencies. The almost totally unanimous answer to the first question was that a species is alien if and only if it is introduced to an area outside its natural range by humans. I found three primary answers to the second question, namely that (1) alien species are more probable to behave invasively or that it is impossible to know for sure if an alien species will behave invasively, (2) being alien is bad in itself or at least that alien species have a lower value than native species and native environments, and (3) being moved by humans is unnatural and being unnatural has negative value. All three answers probably contribute to why being alien is considered a negative property in species but none of them seem like a satisfying answer to why being alien should be seen as a bad thing in a species..

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The Human Factor in a Mission to Mars – An Interdisciplinary Approach, 2019

Some authors argue that we have a moral obligation to leave Mars the way it is, even if it does n... more Some authors argue that we have a moral obligation to leave Mars the way it is, even if it does not harbour any life. This claim is usually based on an assumption that Mars has intrinsic value. The problem with this concept is that different authors use it differently. In this chapter, I investigate different ways in which an uninhabitedMars is said to have intrinsic value. First, I investigate whether the planet can have moral standing. I find that this is not a plausible assumption. I then investigate different combinations of objective value and end value. I find that there is no way we can know whether an uninhabited Mars has objective end value and even if it does, this does not seem to imply any moral obligations on us. I then investigate whether an uninhabited Mars can have subjective end value. I conclude that this is very plausible. I also investigate whether an uninhabited Mars can have objective instrumental value in relation to some other, non-Mars related end value. I find also this very plausible. It is also highly plausible, however, that spreading (human or other) life to a presently uninhabitedMars can also have subjective end value, as well as objective instrumental value. I mention shortly two ways of prioritising between these values: (1) The utilitarian method of counting the number of sentient beings who entertain each value and determining the strength of the values to them. (2) Finding a compromise that allows colonisation on parts of the planet while leaving other parts untouched. These methods should be seen as examples, not as an exhaustive list. Also, I do not take a definitive stand in favour of any of the two approaches, though it seems at least prima facie that the second approach may have a better chance of actually leading to a constructive result.

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Our Common Cosmos, 2019

The aim of this chapter is to use philosophy and, in particular ethical theory, to identify and e... more The aim of this chapter is to use philosophy and, in particular ethical theory, to identify and explore some potential conflicts between planetary protection, astrobiology and commercial use of space.

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

There are strong links between astrobiology and environmental concern. Astrobiology is the study ... more There are strong links between astrobiology and environmental concern. Astrobiology
is the study of the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the
universe—including Earth. Understanding life, and in particular the basic conditions
for life, is important for our ability to create a sustainable future on Earth. The
connection goes both ways, however. The preservation of biodiversity and of
pristine environments on Earth is of the greatest importance for our ability to study
life, its origin, distribution and future. Of special interest from an astrobiology
perspective is the preservation of areas with conditions that can serve as analogues
to extraterrestrial environments, areas with conditions similar to those under which
life originated on Earth, and in general environments where extreme adaptations can
be studied. Astrobiology also presents some direct environmental challenges that
need to be considered, namely in the form of forward and back contamination. Both
issues need to be approached from a technical perspective, but also from a societal
perspective. And both must be understood within a broader context of ensuring the
sustainability of practices, both scientific and commercial.

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Det Gröna Kulturarvet, 2018

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Det Gröna Kulturarvet, 2018

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

There is only, as we know it, one planet with life—our own Earth. However, current research in as... more There is only, as we know it, one planet with life—our own Earth. However, current research in astrobiology searches for a second sample of a livingworld.Astrobiology, which concerns the origin, evolution, and future of life here on Earth and beyond, has become a rapidly expanding research field during the last two decades. European researchers are playing a leading role. Thousands of planets in other solar systems have been discovered. Knowledge about life’s evolutionary origin, and its requirements and environmental conditions have expanded considerably. It is not unlikely that one day—some say that this could happen within the next few decades—we will discover evidence of the existence of another living planet. Living or fossilized microbes could be found within our Solar System, or we could find signs of biological processes on planets in other solar systems. But even if this never happens, astrobiological research will still give us a new understanding of how life emerged on our planet, how it evolved, and what environmental conditions it needs in order to survive. In all, current and future research in astrobiology will change the view of how humans look at themselves, what it means to be a human, to be alive, to survive, where we come from, and where we are heading (Fig. 2.1). Astrobiology has clear existential implications, but beyond these, it also has concrete cultural, ethical, societal, educational, political, economic, and legal consequences. How will the general public react if we discover life on another planet? What pedagogic role can astrobiology play in elementary and higher education? To what extent should we utilise space for commercial and industrial purposes? How should this be politically managed and how should it be legally regulated? This White Paper on the societal implications of astrobiology research in Europe, which is a joint interdisciplinary effort ofWorking Group 5 within the COST Action TD1308 “Origins and Evolution of Life on Earth and in the Universe”, aims to gather together these challenges and implications, and in so doing lay the ground for a European Astrobiology Institute.

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Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today, 2018

Technological innovation is partly a result of high-end research. Such research is the outcome of... more Technological innovation is partly a result of high-end research. Such research is the outcome of merged efforts between scientists coming from theoretical, experimental, and engineering disciplines when they aim to answer significant open questions. Sometimes, the direct goal is the provision of new services or products, very often with a commercial value. This bringing together of disciplines requires the development of new tools, practices and protocols for scientific research, in order to promote technological development and increase knowledge. The merging of efforts brings together industry, universities, governmental institutions and private organisations. A recent example is provided by the field of nanotechnology, where technological research at universities and institutions has resulted in entrepreneurial ventures and partnerships with existing companies and has produced a wealth of commercial products. We expect that the interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral aspect of astrobiology can also trigger new types of technological innovation. New knowledge in astrobiology will help to generate newproblems to be solved, creating a demand for innovative techniques and tools to carry out space research and planetary exploration.

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Det Gröna Kulturarvet, 2018

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LIV – Utomjordiskt, Syntetiskt, Artificiellt, Dec 11, 2017

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LIV – Artificiellt, Syntetiskt, Utomjordiskt, Dec 11, 2017

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LIV – Artificiellt, syntetiskt och utomjordiskt, Dec 11, 2017

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Cockell, Charles S. (ed.) Human Governance Neyond Earth, 2015

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Andréasson, Anna; Jakobsson, Anna; Gräslund Berg, Elisabeth; Heimdahl, Jens; Larsson, Inger; Persson, Erik (eds.): Sources to the history of gardening, 2014

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Andréasson, Anna; Jakobsson, Anna; Gräslund Berg, Elisabeth; Heimdahl, Jens; Larsson, Inger; Persson, Erik (eds.): Sources to the history of gardening, 2014

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Living with Storm Damage to Forests, 2013

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The History and Philosophy of Astrobiology Eds.: David Dunér, Joel Parthemore, Erik Persson and Gustav Holmberg, 2013

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Why should we spend resources on planetary protection, and how much resources should we spend on ... more Why should we spend resources on planetary protection, and how much resources should we spend on it? These questions are not in a strict sense scientific questions, but value questions. That is, they are axiological questions. They are, however, central to all decisions regarding planetary protection and need to be considered thoroughly, carefully and transparently. The answers to these questions also need to be thoroughly motivated in a way that makes sense also to the world outside of astrobiology.

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If we ever decide to start geoengineering another world, and maybe even terraform a world that is... more If we ever decide to start geoengineering another world, and maybe even terraform a world that is not presently habitable for humans, it is also highly probable that it will become less habitable for any indigenous life. Making sure, or at least trying to determine the probability that a potentially habitable world is in fact uninhabited will thus be an important step before we start any geo-engineering on that world, and possibly even before we let humans land there in the first place.

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FP 7 Project no. 225644 MOTIVE Models for Adaptive Forest Management, 2011

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LTJ-rapport 2013-14

“Genetic variation as cultural heritage of the agricultural landscape in southern Sweden” (GRAAL)... more “Genetic variation as cultural heritage of the agricultural landscape in southern Sweden” (GRAAL) is a project which has recently been initiated and is carried out in cooperation by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); Swedish Biodiversity Centre (CBM) and Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen). The project´s objective is to study the genetic diversity and propose conservation measures relating to the genetic heritage of trees and shrubs in the landscape. The project thus intends to identify and assess the genetic variety of coppiced threes in the Scanian cultural landscape. The project also intends, as part of this work, to develop an interdisciplinary and cross-sectorial approach where modern genetic analysis interact with new archaeological and historical methods and landscape analysis. This report presents a historical study of maps which aims to identify areas where the old coppiced trees with large sockets can be found.

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In my presentation I will suggest how philosophy, in particular ethical theory but also philosoph... more In my presentation I will suggest how philosophy, in particular ethical theory but also philosophy of science, can be used to identify and possibly provide constructive advice regarding how to handle potential value conflicts in connection with planetary protection.
Planetary Protection, the way the term is used today, is mainly a technical term for measures taken in order to avoid contamination either of extra-terrestrial bodies (i.e. planets/moons/asteroids/etc.) (forward contamination) or of our own earth (back or backward contamination). I will here concentrate on the former. The motivation behind present guidelines for planetary protection takes the form of a desire among astrobiologists to study a pristine environment. One want to make sure that any extra-terrestrial life will not be strongly influence, or even destroyed, by any invasive earth life before one manages to study it properly. This means the guidelines for planetary protection aim to keep the body in question free from contamination by earth organisms for the duration of the study. This aim can be questioned from different vantage points. If extra-terrestrial life has moral status in their own right or value other than as study objects, the guidelines might have to be stronger. If not just science but also commercial initiatives have an interest in the body in question, it might be argued that the need to protect the indigenous life needs to be balanced against the potential commercial value of the body. Taken together, the intersection of science goals, commercial interests and societal concerns regarding planetary protection provide some philosophically very interesting examples of ethical problems concerning the relation between science and other interests.

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When searching for life on potentially habitable worlds it is important to try to minimize the ri... more When searching for life on potentially habitable worlds it is important to try to minimize the risk of severely disturbing the living systems that we want to study. Since the risk can never be zero we need to make a trade off between protection and research. If the extraterrestrial life also has moral status in its own right, this trade off will be different than if we only have to consider their value for science. The question will be even more complicated when the time comes to use habitable worlds for commercial purposes. In my talk I will try to set the stage for a constructive discussion by identifying potential conflicts between different interests, and indicating how philosophical reasoning can help dealing with them.

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When sending missions to other worlds, be they planets, moons or asteroids, there are many proble... more When sending missions to other worlds, be they planets, moons or asteroids, there are many problems to consider. One particular type of problem is the problems that have to do with value. Value questions are inherently tricky and it might be tempting to just ignore them. In my presentation I explain why that is a really bad idea. I will also try to explain and throw some light on some of the value problems in connection with space exploration, and present some ideas about how to deal with them.

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This talk will discuss an important problem related to the suggested relaxations of the internati... more This talk will discuss an important problem related to the suggested relaxations of the international treaties regarding for instance the right to claiming property rights on celestial bodies. Opening up for private concessions and ownership of property in space can have many positive consequences, for instance by speeding up the process of establishing enterprises and colonies outside of our home planet. It might even be a necessary incentive for setting the ball in motion. It can also have negative consequences, however. If we are not careful we might for instance see interplanetary versions of the East India Company, that is, private enterprises acting as governments but where the power base is made up by the shareholders, not the people over which they rule. The basic question will be: How do we open up for and encourage increased private activity in space in a way that eventually leads to democratic self-governance and not to a situation where Mars and the moon, as well as their future inhabitants, are owned by the company whose activities make up the financial basis for the settlement?

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What is the role of subjectivity in the concept of ‘risk'? I want to claim that subjectivity pl... more What is the role of subjectivity in the concept of ‘risk'?
I want to claim that subjectivity plays two very different roles in the concept of risk. One role has to do with the assessment of probabilities and the size of different effects. The other role has to do with the valuation of effects and the willingness to run risks. In the first of role, subjectivity is something that needs to be minimized. In the latter, subjectivity is the very point, and thus not something that can be minimized, or ignored.
The term ‘risk’ can mean many different things. I will here depart from the common definition of risk as the product of the probability for a certain bad effect, and the size of that effect. To that I want to add a third factor, viz. the negative value of the effect.
It is sometimes discussed whether probabilities is or can be totally objective. My claim here is that whether this is the case or not, the aim of probability assessments in risk assessment are to provide reliable knowledge. We should therefore aspire to be as objective as possible. Even if a certain amount of subjective valuation is unavoidable, our ambition should be to minimize it. The same is true regarding the size of the effect. We need reliable knowledge about the expected size of the effect, and thus we need to minimize the element of subjectivity in our assessment of the effect.
There is more to an effect than its size however. In addition of assessing the size of the possible effect, we also need to make some kind of valuation regarding its seriousness. If we conclude that there is a probability of 0.08 that two workers per year will lose an arm when using a certain machine, then we can know both the probability (0.08) and the size of the effect (2 lost arms), but we can still not say how big risk we run by using this machine unless we first decide how bad it is for the potential victims to lose an arm. If we do not know that we can never say how big the risk really is. We can only say that there is an 8% risk of losing two arms, which in itself does not tell us if this is a big risk or not.
In the same way, the total size of the risk (probability X size of effect X valuation of effect) is not enough to tell us whether the risk is justified. In order to know that, we again need to know the subjective perspective of the potential victim.
The two latter aspects depend on how we value the things involved, thus they need to be assessed from a subjective perspective. This means that in order to get a complete and decision guiding assessment of the risk and of whether the risk is justified we need to minimize the subjectivity when it comes to the probability and size but accept and acknowledge it when it comes to the valuation and acceptance.

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Trying to create life is probably a good way of increasing our understanding of life, but what if... more Trying to create life is probably a good way of increasing our understanding of life, but what if we actually succeed? Some say that creating life is an activity that should be restricted to God or Nature. Others think that it would present opportunities too great not to pursue.
A third position is that if it can be done it will be done and the question is rather how to handle it in a responsible way. This is the position I will assume in this presentation in order to see if and in that case, how research aiming at creation of life, and (assuming it will be possible) actual creation of life can be done in a responsible way.
The first question that has to be considered if we choose the third position is what it means to handle something in a responsible way. Is it the way that gives you the highest return on your investment? Is it the way that results in the highest amount of good overall no matter who is the recipient of the good? Is it the way that corresponds with what a virtuous person would decide, or is it the way that is based on the best intentions, that best considers everyone’s rights, and that avoids actions that are bad in themselves?
How to answer this question depends on which basic moral theory one adheres to. I will therefore give a very short introduction to the most relevant theories: Utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics.
The rest of the presentation will be devoted to
(1) identifying the major challenges that have to be considered in connection with research aiming at creation of life and in connection with a situation when creation of life is a reality,
(2) identifying how they should be handled according to utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics respectively.

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The poster presents results of a recent study looking into the attitudes towards the scientific s... more The poster presents results of a recent study looking into the attitudes towards the scientific search for extra-terrestrial life among high school and university students in Sweden. The analysis has revealed that (a) the great majority of students believe that extra-terrestrial life exists; (b) most students regard searching for extra-terrestrial life to be fairly important; (c) very few students think that searching for extra-terrestrial life is something we should actively avoid; (d) the most common motive for assigning a high priority to search for extra-terrestrial life, is that it is interesting; and the most common motive for assigning a low priority is the opinion that such knowledge would not be practically useful or that the money would be better spent elsewhere; (e) most students do not think they are very well informed regarding the search for extra-terrestrial life. At the same time, however, a higher percentage of the students who judge themselves to be well informed also believe that extra-terrestrial life exists. We have also found some differences between sub-groups (men/women, high school students/university students and different fields of study), but the differences are with few exceptions small in comparison to the overall trends, and typically matters of degree rather than direction.

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Why should we spend resources on planetary protection, and how much resources should we spend on ... more Why should we spend resources on planetary protection, and how much resources should we spend on it?
These questions are not in a strict sense scientific questions, but value questions. That is, they are axiological questions. They are, however, central to all decisions regarding planetary protection and need to be considered thoroughly, carefully and transparently. The answers to these questions also need to be thoroughly motivated in a way that makes sense also to the world outside of astrobiology. This is important because questions of extraterrestrial life are important to all people on Earth and our relations to the general public, political decision makers, funders and commercial space initiatives depend on it.

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The poster presents recent work of Working Group 5 Philosophy and History of Science, is a Trans-... more The poster presents recent work of Working Group 5 Philosophy and History of Science, is a Trans-Domain European COST Action Life-ORIGINS TD1308 and introduces the latest draft of the White Paper on societal implications of astrobiology research in European context, ‘Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today.’ The poster provides overview of sections related to contributions of astrobiology to society, advancement of science in Europe, environmental protection and the quest for sustainability, as well as societal challenges from astrobiology, and potential conflicts of interest between astrobiology and commercial use of space. Furthermore, it will illustrate the contemporary perceptions of astrobiology by general public and the timely role of an organised initiative in astrobiology education and popularisation of science.

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Socrates was not just a pioneer in philosophy. He was also a pioneer in education through his met... more Socrates was not just a pioneer in philosophy. He was also a pioneer in education through his method of involving his interlocutors in the philosophical process. The method is often referred to as the majeuticmethod because according to Socrates, he helped the person he talked with to give birth to their own ideas just like a midwife helps other women giving birth to their children.
The Socratic Dialogue in its modern form was invented by the German philosopher Leonard Nelson (1882–1927). It is inspired by Socrates method but it also differs from the original in particular by being more formalized and usually performed in groups between 5 and 20 participants.

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Environmental Ethics, 2019

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