Planetary chauvinism

Planetary chauvinism is a term coined by Isaac Asimov to describe a commonly-held belief that human society will always be planet-based (even if extended beyond Earth), and overlooks or ignores the potential benefits of space-based living. The counter-argument is that all the benefits of a planet can be achieved in space, usually by an O'Neill Cylinder type structure.

"Just because you evolved on a planet does not necessitate that you continue to live on one. And there are some profoundly good reasons not to do so. Like that big honkin' "gravity well" that you have to expensively and dangerously blast your way up out of each time you need to go someplace. And the bigger the planet, the worse the penalty." - Dave Brody (National Space Society).

See also

• chauvinism