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/sci/ - Science & Math

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4269189 No.4269189 [Reply] [Original]

Before I get too far into this, this is a thread about aliens. so you know what you're getting into.

anyway.
lets look at how humanity got to be the dominant species on the planet.

-language: we are able to transfer and pool information

apposable thumbs: we are able to grasp, enabling us to use and build tools

large brains: we are able to effectively store information, and pass it on

efficient runners: we are the best long distance runners on the planet, this made us amazing hunters. Which may have led to greater planning/thinking abilities

Imagination: the way our brain developed, allows us to think in abstracts, that we may solve complicated problems.

Pack instinct: we are conditioned to work together, allowing us to advance further than individuals.

now. If all these things came together to help us develop into the technological species that we are today. It could be argued that without any one of them, we may not have advanced so far. Or we may not have been able to overcome many of the hurdles we faced.

So, what are the chances of there being intelligent, tool using life out there in the universe?

If we want to believe that another space faring species exists, we need to take into account the number of things necessary for a species to develop that way.

Is is possible, nay probable, that species with all the traits needed to get to space are incredibly rare? Keep into account that intelligence is not necessarily needed for survival, that's just how we got there.
and apposable thumbs are rare as well, only one branch of mammals has them.

and language, very few animals can communicate effectively. and only one can trade information so well.

What is to keep us from thinking, that we may be the most technologically advanced species in the universe?

>> No.4269195

not to mention how unbelievably lucky we were to only have a couple mass extinction events.

what happens if they're more common on planets that could have developed intelligent life?

especially if a planet is larger than ours, it may have greater seismic activity, or get struck by more asteroids. etc.

>> No.4269205

Because there are a multitude of reasons for more advanced civilizations not to talk to us. Stray signals are waste and so is making contact with a baby species that is still bound in it's cradle.

>> No.4269208

Sage because there is already a thread for this, and its boring.

>> No.4269210

>>4269205

but look how many traits we needed to become what we are today,
what happens if most planets that can support life stay in the "dinosaur stage"

Personally, I doubt that "advanced alien species" are even out there.
alien species definitely are, but intelligent? that may be a bit of a stretch

>> No.4269223

>>4269210
I'd say making any assumptions at this point is a bit of a stretch.

The whole fermi paradox is conjecture heaped on assumptions glazed with an unhealthy dose of jumping-to-conclusions.

So far we have exactly one data point about how life develops in the universe.

Making sweeping absolute predictions any which way from this one data point is pure fiction.

If you want to speculate, then start your thread by saying "this is speculation".

>> No.4269229

>>4269223

well, "this is about aliens" kind of covers that.