A. C. Grayling on Who Owns the Moon?
By Harriet Rogers
‘The moon doesn’t belong to anybody, so it belongs to everybody.’
Philosopher A. C. Grayling fascinated a packed audience at Wimbledon Bookfest exploring the ideas in his new book, Who Owns the Moon, and arguing for the need for careful consideration as humanity proceeds with space exploration and settlement.
In conversation with journalist Stefan Stern, Grayling stressed the importance of ‘planting the right seeds’ for the future, the right foundational principles we must establish for future human colonies. Whilst there is the possibility for visionaries who could root space communities in ideals aligned with internationally accepted principles – like those of the United Nations – Grayling was not wholly optimistic. He warned of a different type of ‘seed’, typified by Elon Musk, whose ideals are driven by profit and authoritarianism.
Reflecting on the long-standing disputes over the law of the sea, Grayling expressed his deep concern over the potential for future conflict, fearing that without proper regulation, history will repeat itself.
According to journalist Nina Power, Grayling is an ‘Enlightenment thinker for whom treaties make reality’. This approach, and his expertise, was certainly demonstrated in this event. He explained to audiences the significance of the Outer Space Treaty, which currently declares the Moon a kind of ‘terra nullius,’ or no-man’s land, making it a legal ‘grey’ area which is open for all to use. Yet, as Grayling highlighted, clear and sufficient rules to prevent exploitation and conflict have yet to be established. He also referred to the fact that the Antarctic Treaty will expire soon, making it vulnerable to potential resource extraction.
Grayling concluded this conversation by warning of an imminent ‘gold rush’ for space resources and the inevitability of conflict which will result from this material drive. A conflict which, Grayling strongly believes, will most definitely not stay in space, as he noted the unsettling fact that space has already been designated as a ‘war-fighting zone.’
His talk was thought-provoking and important and left the audience wondering – without a robust international treaty, who does own the Moon and what will the consequences of this be?
