Historical Review of the Origin of Life and Astrobiology

Abstract

Wondering about the place of humanity in the cosmos is probably one of the oldest questions philosophers have raised since ancient times. The problem of the very essence of life or the existence of other worlds possibly inhabited by human-like living beings is still debated. Are humans the only beings in the cosmos trying to find the key to the origins of life and of the universe? Numerous centuries have passed and such a question still remains to be answered. The history and the philosophy of sciences can probably contribute to understanding the structure of this new huge field of research - from the solution to the problem of the origin of life on Earth to the search for life elsewhere in the universe.