Adam Hibberd
November 2022
People may ask the question why we should venture beyond our solar system to explore the stars? Why should we commit precious resources to such an endeavour? I have an answer to this which may to some degree be a personal one.
The question boils down to why are we curious? There are of course lots of answers to this question and people may wish to confine the answer to a particular pursuit or hobby. But there is a general response in the context of scientific curiosity, in other words science research. (Indeed, exploration of the universe is only an extension of our own curiosity, which inevitably by definition, involves the acquisition of new knowledge.)
To understand why we need curiosity let's look at the chances of humanity's survival if we had none. There would be no medicine, no agriculture, no transport, etc, in fact no technology whatsoever for that matter. Our existence on this planet would be short because we would soon be exterminated by for example plague or starvation, etc - nature would take its course and we would face quick obliteration from the universe.
By exercising our curiosity we extend the limits of what is known and therefore we can take countermeasures to any possible dangers or alternatively grasp any opportunities which may arise in order to prolong our existence in this universe which we inhabit. We can't do either of these things if we don't investigate our surroundings, and what's more continually seek to expand those horizons.
Yes it is true, curiosity might possibly kill the cat, but remember what I mentioned above, without it humanity would face certain extinction.
