Taxonomy and Jargon in SETI as an Interdisciplinary Field of Study

TL;DR

This paper redefines SETI as an interdisciplinary field with diverse subfields and approaches, emphasizing the importance of a unified framework for understanding its terminology and efforts.

Contribution

It proposes a comprehensive framework that organizes SETI's various subfields and approaches into a cohesive interdisciplinary structure.

Findings

SETI encompasses multiple subfields beyond radio astronomy.

A unified terminology framework can improve interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Dysonian Approach offers a broader perspective on detecting extraterrestrial intelligence.

Abstract

While SETI is often thought of as a part of radio astronomy with optical SETI, artifact SETI, METI, and other approaches to finding intelligent life considered to be allied fields, SETI is better understood as an interdisciplinary field with many subfields, approaches, and components. In particular, Robert Bradbury has argued for a broad view of SETI between two extremes: "orthodox SETI," or radio communication SETI, and a "Dysonian Approach" that searches for the extreme effects of alien life on its environment. Here, I build on these ideas and attempt to organize the terminology and efforts of SETI within a single framework for SETI as an interdisciplinary and multipronged approach.