Interstellar Law - Toleration

Why do we need to discuss Toleration in the light of Interstellar Law?

The reason is that many authors looking at our future in space have decided that such exploration and colonisation can only occur if there are no political, religious, ethical and/or social differences.

Yet the reality is that crews in space, including on the International Space Station, have been diverse. Crew members of different political nations, religions, ethical beliefs and social mores have worked well together.

So well, in fact, that crew members view themselves with one role for humanity as a whole. Borders do not exist in space when looking back at the ‘pale blue dot’ that is the earth.

Toleration does, then, exist in space. We have admittedly reached in human flight to the moon, and for the last few decades in lower earth orbit. But the removal of earth-based evils in fact began with Apollo 8 in late 1968 when for the first time humanity saw the earth as a whole. No borders. Just humanity.

But the lack of borders does not mean that there are none of the aforementioned differences. In fact, there has been working together in space that simply is lacking on the earth itself.

Yet, as mentioned, too many works seek to eliminate differences by banning those differences in space.

That is why this book was written – to review the great works on toleration.

This is Mr. Risman’s 22nd law text. Mr. Risman is an Honours LL.B. graduate from the University of London, and obtained his LL.M from the same institution. Mr. Risman is a member of the Society of Legal Scholars of the United Kingdom and Ireland. He has advised the UK Supreme Court, and has spoken at Legal Conferences in the UK and abroad.