2023 NHSDLC秋季辯題正式揭曉！

本次投票簡直戲劇性拉滿，尤其是在前兩(liang) 次披露中分別占領高票的兩(liang) 大人氣選手辯題3和辯題5票數始終緊咬不放，讓組委會(hui) 也忍不住為(wei) 之捏一把汗。投票截止後的第二天，我們(men) 迫不及待地開始了計票工作，1300+選票如同開一個(ge) 巨型盲盒是穩穩當當開出大熱門還是爆冷黑馬開出隱藏款？直到最後仍有反轉！這份緊張刺激，家人們(men) 誰懂啊！

那麽(me) 最後，究竟是哪一道辯題“成功出道”成為(wei) 了最終的秋季辯題呢？現在就為(wei) 大家揭曉！

本次秋季辯題總投票數為(wei) 1355票 經組委會(hui) 核查統計 最終有效票數為(wei) 1051票 辯題3以五票的微弱優(you) 勢勝出 當選2023秋季辯題！

Topic Introduction 辯題背景 - 2023 NHSDLC秋季常規賽 -

Born too late to explore earth,

born too early to explore space.

- Anonymous

This quote adequately describes humans. Earth is practically entirely mapped, and we never read about somebody discovering a new continent. Yet, we read on a daily basis about new exoplanets, new stars, new galaxies, and plenty of other astronomical discoveries that, perhaps, may open doors to a future of space exploration.   This season’s resolution peeks at a corner of this broad topic: Resolved: Private sector investment in human space exploration is preferable to public sector investment.

私人對載人航天探索的投資優(you) 於(yu) 公共部門的投資。

The question here is not if we should explore space, though that is certainly arguable if you wish, but more on who should be investing in space exploration, almost treating it as an inevitability. That said, what do you need to know before diving into researching this resolution?

Three key areas

1. Goals of human space exploration

2. Private versus public sector investment

3. Economic incentives

Perspective

1、Goals of human space exploration

人類太空探索的目標

First, the goals of human space exploration. Why do we want to explore space? To explore this question, first think back to history: why did humans explore Earth?

For one, there’s the obvious answer: colonialism and finding more ground to exploit. But deeper, at its core, because humans wanted to seek out the unknown – we wanted to find out more about the blue ball we call home. It is through that that European settlers “discovered” North America, and “discovered” Australia and New Zealand, which were discovered thousands of years (or hundreds in the case of New Zealand) prior, also by those exploring the planet.

A paper explains humanity’s goals with a more dire tone:

With some experts believing that human civilisation may not survive to the end of the century, the main goals for space exploration should first be the preservation of planet Earth as a human habitat and, second, for human beings to settle in another haven, e.g. to colonise Mars. […] The fundamental message of this article [–] humanity must become a spacefaring species.

In short, we may go extinct. Consequently, exploring space allows us, humanity, to possibly find a new home, which is imperative for human survival. We can’t place a price tag on billions of lives.

Perspective 2、

Private versus public sector investment

私人投資與(yu) 公共部門投資

This leads to number two: private versus public sector investment. Who should pay the price tag? Honestly, both. But which should be prioritized? Which is more effective? More important? More likely to succeed? That is a question for you to answer with your research. As for possible directions to go in, think about two questions as you explore arguments: what worked in the past, and what is likely to work in the future? These do not necessarily have the same answer, though many answers are shared.

In exploring this you will find that your first impression of this resolution may be entirely wrong.

Perspective 3、

Economic incentives

經濟誘因

Not going extinct is not the only reason to explore space. On top of not going extinct, humans can take advantage of what exists in space, that does not exist on Earth. That is, natural resources, or new technologies, or even aliens. These are all economic incentives, the third main area.

Natural resources.

These may be on asteroids, or exoplanets, or comets – the plenty of extraterrestrial bodies that exist in outer space. These bodies have a lot of resources, which could be worth trillions, or even quadrillions, of dollars. Obviously, you can argue that this sort of incentive to propagate capitalism is bad, or evil, or even contradictory to not going extinct. But it’s a source of wealth that currently does not exist on Earth.

Then, new technologies.

If we want to travel to another solar system, we need space faring technology that (1) does not exist right now, (2) may exist given enough investment, and (3) will allow us to travel around the galaxy, even if travel times may take many years.

It will enable humans to branch out and further explore this galaxy. These technologies, even if they take decades to become reality, will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and pump Earth’s economy, and when they become reality, will possibly allow us to avoid extinction.

And, aliens. Recent developments in the US have implied that aliens may exist, though sources have not confirmed this fact. Regardless if aliens exist, further exploring the universe may give us opportunities to contact other civilizations. Whether this is good or bad, that is your job to answer. On the one hand, we may find friends whom we can collaborate with. On the other hand, we may cease to exist.

Carl Sagan said, Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.

滅絕是規則,生存是例外。

Perhaps humans can be the exception. Good luck! And have fun!  

本次秋季辯題可以說是

既著眼於(yu) 前沿科技探究的可行性

亦富有著詩人的浪漫情懷