Is man the only intelligent life form in the universe?

[logician]

I think Logician was leaning more towards a signal light shield (like the blinkers on a signaling light on Naval vessels) like apparatus (or at least that is how I interpreted his comment). I would assume that the device in question would be a more directional signal than what would be developed by a Dyson sphere.

Not completely sure that is what he was thinking though.

Correct, really, it only has to drop the luminosity a little in non-random intervals, the orbit would "radiate" it in many directions. It would have to be quite large, but out in space, it could be build a little at a time, size wouldn't be a hindance, and the shape could be a very thin flat plane.

 

[logician]

It could be that species survivability is inversely proportional to intelligence, i.e. "intelligent" species use up valuable resources at a tremendous rate because they can, both starving and polluting themselves to extinction.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

It could be that species survivability is inversely proportional to intelligence, i.e. "intelligent" species use up valuable resources at a tremendous rate because they can, both starving and polluting themselves to extinction.

Indeed, it seems like a strong possibility that it may be impossible for an intelligent species to get the point of getting out of their home system. Once an intelligent species starts to develop technology, the clock is set for them to develop the level of organization and technology to expand outward before using their limited stock of natural resources, along with avoiding self-destruction along the way.

A certain amount of growth is required to develop advanced technology, and, perhaps, any species that has the propensity for this type of growth, may expend too much of its resources on population growth and sustanence to ever have enough left over, to put into the vast requirements that technology to travel beyond your own solar system would take.

 

[idea]

Yes, there is other intelligent life out there. The Cambrian explosion is a mystery to some...

the best explanation for it is this:
[youtube]5-XWAXe4xJg[/youtube]
YouTube - Origin of Life - Panspermia (2 of 3)

If the life here was seeded from another planet through HGT (HGT link)/panspermia - that would mean aliens look like us - are the same genetic makeup as us... so I think there are other intelligent people out there living on other planets .

 

[Willamena]

Aliens aren't required to explain the Cambrian Explosion. All that's required is a few too many nice, hot days.

 

[averageJOE]

Interesting response averageJoe. My understanding is that G-d is much like us - but advanced. What I find so interesting is that non-religious people do not want to consider the possibility of G-d but they will accept ET and "religiously" defend advanced intelligence when there is about the same caliber of evidence.

Zadok

Ezekiel:
004:And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.005:Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

Verses 6 - 13 describe the apperance of these "creatures". The entire first chapter is interesting, but here are the ones that stand out to me:

019:And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.020:Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.021:When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

023:And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.024:And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

027:And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.

He is describing a very loud flying machine with bright lights that came from the skies, a machine with fire driven propulsion. He also talks about the beings that were piloting this craft. I don't know about you but the guy sure sounds like he is describing an alien encounter! Would this not be considered "evidence"? It is after all from your own bible.

 

[PolyHedral]

He is describing a very loud flying machine with bright lights that came from the skies, a machine with fire driven propulsion.

In other words, a jet aircraft?

 

[Bird123]

The universe is a very big place. There are an almost infinite number of galaxies out there. I went out in my backyard today. There was no intelligent life except for me. Does that mean intelligent life doesn't exist??? The distances in the universe are there for a reason. Planets with life must be protected from those not advanced enough to understand how not to screw up the other world. I don't believe mankind is ready yet. Doesn't knowledge almost always run deeper than what can be seen on the surface??? Further, we can not assume that our way of doing things is the only way it will be done. Mankind is just now starting to discover other planets. I'm sure alot is being missed.

 

[logician]

The universe is a very big place. There are an almost infinite number of galaxies out there. I went out in my backyard today. There was no intelligent life except for me. Does that mean intelligent life doesn't exist??? The distances in the universe are there for a reason. Planets with life must be protected from those not advanced enough to understand how not to screw up the other world. I don't believe mankind is ready yet. Doesn't knowledge almost always run deeper than what can be seen on the surface??? Further, we can not assume that our way of doing things is the only way it will be done. Mankind is just now starting to discover other planets. I'm sure alot is being missed.

I don't think the distances between planets, and aliens not messing with each other, are really correlated with each other.

 

[Zadok]

I keep making the point - the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

Is there conclusive evidence of intelligence life similar or more advanced than man in the universe -- Answer NO!
Is there conclusive evidence there is a G-d that created the universe -- Answer NO!

My only point concerns those that argue there is no G-d (even silly to imagine a G-d) because there is no conclusive evidence but also argue there is intelligent life similar to or more advanced than man's.

Zadok

 

[logician]

I keep making the point - the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

Is there conclusive evidence of intelligence life similar or more advanced than man in the universe -- Answer NO!
Is there conclusive evidence there is a G-d that created the universe -- Answer NO!

My only point concerns those that argue there is no G-d (even silly to imagine a G-d) because there is no conclusive evidence but also argue there is intelligent life similar to or more advanced than man's.

Zadok

That's not me, until we have evidence that intelligent life besides ours exists, the jury is out.

 

[Smoke]

My only point concerns those that argue there is no G-d (even silly to imagine a G-d) because there is no conclusive evidence but also argue there is intelligent life similar to or more advanced than man's.

But one is not as likely as the other. We already know that it's possible for intelligent life to evolve. We don't just have evidence; we have proof. But we have no evidence at all for gods. Knowing for certain that a phenomenon has occurred in one location makes it more reasonable to think it's occurred in another location. It is not similarly reasonable to believe in gods.

 

[branson]

totally agree with the absence of evidence, faith is faith either way you look at it. let it be in the faith of a creator god, or faith that there is intelligent life else where in the universe. proof positive, so far as we know, does not currently exist. unless a papal vault in the vatican has factual proof locked away some where, that for some reason they do not want to release, but that would seem contrary to them wanting to shove it in every other religons face. the worlds governments could also have actual evidence of extra terrestial biological entities, but to our current knowledge they dont. or they are intentionally hiding it, wich to me seems likely but again there is no evidence of that. my point being is that untill it literally falls in our lap either or is just a matter of faith.

 

[branson]

i myself like to deal in theory, because after it is proposed it just hangs there, untill it is proven or disproven. if we didnt have theories scientific advancement would slowly grind to a halt.

 

[Tiapan]

The scary thing is if we are the only one!
Fortunately I believe in statistics and TIME. like lotto someone wins every week even though the chance of individually picking the exact code/place is near impossible. There is a lot of fertile soil out there so here's hoping we aren't alone.

 

[shawn001]

Science has never been able to discover any evidence of any life in the universe other than the life we have found here on earth. One of the theories is that with random possibilities it is inevitable that there would be life and eventually intelligent life. Assuming that life would be more advanced in more mature or more evolved area of our universe – it is most interesting that we have never discovered any electrical magnetic radiation from an intelligent source similar to man or as advanced as man currently on earth.

Even accounting for the vast distances of space there are mature evolved solar systems much like our own that would have reached us with signs of intelligent use of electrical magnetic forces. Recent developments in researching nuclear fusion indicates that controlled nuclear fusion would produce a discernible electrical magnetic beacon pointing us to any intelligent life like our own that exist within the vast dimensions within tolerances of reaching us by now. But there is none.

Is it any more absurd of foolish to believe that there is intelligent life in the universe other than man any more than it absurd to believe there is a G-d?

Zadok

Astronomers estimate 100 billion habitable Earth-like planets in the Milky Way, 50 sextillion in the universe

Astronomers estimate 100 billion habitable Earth-like planets in the Milky Way, 50 sextillion in the universe | ExtremeTech

 

[NulliuSINverba]

Science has never been able to discover any evidence of any life in the universe other than the life we have found here on earth.

Yet.

One of the theories is that with random possibilities it is inevitable that there would be life and eventually intelligent life. Assuming that life would be more advanced in more mature or more evolved area of our universe – it is most interesting that we have never discovered any electrical magnetic radiation from an intelligent source similar to man or as advanced as man currently on earth.

Given the vastness of the universe, it isn't at all surprising. In fact, isn't it accurate to say that any alien civilizations would need to be within 100-odd light years of us to have access to our earliest possible transmissions (in this case, apparently Enrico Caruso singing Pagliacci)?

This is assuming that they're even listening. Isn't it quite possible that there could be intelligent life out there that isn't capable of listening?

Anyway ... if actively listening for signs of other life in the universe is a criterion for judging intelligence, then wouldn't we be obliged to concede that the Bible was written by non-intelligent beings?

Even accounting for the vast distances of space there are mature evolved solar systems much like our own that would have reached us with signs of intelligent use of electrical magnetic forces.

Isn't that rather presumptive? Just because a given environment appears to us (over mind-boggling distances) to be ripe for intelligent life doesn't mean that intelligent life was obliged to materialize there, does it?

Recent developments in researching nuclear fusion indicates that controlled nuclear fusion would produce a discernible electrical magnetic beacon pointing us to any intelligent life like our own that exist within the vast dimensions within tolerances of reaching us by now. But there is none.

No evidence of nuclear fusion? Perhaps another power source is being utilized?

Is it any more absurd of foolish to believe that there is intelligent life in the universe other than man any more than it absurd to believe there is a G-d?

Apes and dolphins exhibit intelligence.

So your question ("Is man the only intelligent life form in the universe?") has been answered ... and we didn't even have to leave this planet.

 

[Guy Threepwood]

Science has never been able to discover any evidence of any life in the universe other than the life we have found here on earth. One of the theories is that with random possibilities it is inevitable that there would be life and eventually intelligent life. Assuming that life would be more advanced in more mature or more evolved area of our universe – it is most interesting that we have never discovered any electrical magnetic radiation from an intelligent source similar to man or as advanced as man currently on earth.

Even accounting for the vast distances of space there are mature evolved solar systems much like our own that would have reached us with signs of intelligent use of electrical magnetic forces. Recent developments in researching nuclear fusion indicates that controlled nuclear fusion would produce a discernible electrical magnetic beacon pointing us to any intelligent life like our own that exist within the vast dimensions within tolerances of reaching us by now. But there is none.

Is it any more absurd of foolish to believe that there is intelligent life in the universe other than man any more than it absurd to believe there is a G-d?

Zadok

The idea of aliens has long appealed to atheists because of it's implication that humanity is not 'special'. And I'd be willing to accept that implication if aliens were ever discovered. And I'm willing to accept the opposite implication of observed reality also.

We have an ear on an entire galaxy and hear nothing but deafening silence. We are the only means we know of by which the universe is able to contemplate itself. Yet another staggering coincidence? Perhaps but I think there are more rational explanations than fluke

 

[Guy Threepwood]

The scary thing is if we are the only one!
Fortunately I believe in statistics and TIME. like lotto someone wins every week even though the chance of individually picking the exact code/place is near impossible. There is a lot of fertile soil out there so here's hoping we aren't alone.

It's an interesting question because either answer is profound- as a hypothetical, if it turned out we were alone, would this give you pause, or would you feel comfortable writing this off as coincidence?

 

[viole]

The idea of aliens has long appealed to atheists because of it's implication that humanity is not 'special'. And I'd be willing to accept that implication if aliens were ever discovered. And I'm willing to accept the opposite implication of observed reality also.

You don't need aliens to realize that a species of apes is not "special", whateve you mean with that.

We have an ear on an entire galaxy and hear nothing but deafening silence. We are the only means we know of by which the universe is able to contemplate itself. Yet another staggering coincidence? Perhaps but I think there are more rational explanations than fluke

What makes you think that the universe wants to be able to observe itself?

Probably, a huge mirror would have been easier to implement, lol.

Ciao

- viole