Jornal de Astrobiologia e Divulgação

Abstrato

Cultural Obstacles to the Acceptance of Life as a Cosmic Phenomenon

N Chandra Wickramasinghe

We are led to believe that modern science is free of all forms of irrational prejudice that had plagued science over the centuries. It is argued that this is not true in relation to the most fundamental aspects of biology, including the question of the origin of life and its cosmic provenance. From the early 1980’s evidence in favor of the theory of cosmic life and a version of panspermia that was developed by Fred Hoyle and the present author has grown to the point that its continued marginalization or even outright rejection is a cause for serious concern. The cultural impediments to a proper assessment of these crucially important ideas should be recognized and overcome in the interests of science as well as of humanity.