Until several centuries ago, humans considered themselves unique, living on a Goldilocks planet in the center of the universe. Galileo Galilei already smashed latter notion. A 15 June 2020 study in The Astrophysical Journal claims that “there should be at least 36 civilizations within our [Milky Way] Galaxy” in “the Strong scenario” and “under the strictest set of assumptions”.
Clearly, this study assumes the following:
– evolution is convergent rather than random (eg, my 2018 blog);
– convergence tends towards complex and intelligent rather than simple lifeforms (my blogs);
– life and consciousness are fundamental concepts (Bernard Baars in SA-2020, my 2020 blog);
– life follows a “grand design” (eg, Leonid Moroz in Aeon-2017, my 2018 blog).
Whether these other 35 civilizations have less or more advanced lifeforms, depends on the ageing of their planets. In my view, more advanced is likely because our Milky Way galaxy is almost as old as the entire Universe (c. 13.7 billion years ago) while planet Earth was “only” formed about 4.54 bya.
The study claims that contacting these civilizations is “likely far surpassing our ability to detect it for the foreseeable future, and making interstellar communication impossible”. I’ve marked the word “our” in bold. Clearly, more advanced civilizations should have the ability contacting us. They may have done so in 2004 and 2015 (27 April 2020 US DoD statement).
Ancient civilizations (eg, Sumerian, Zoroastrianism) may have mentioned ancient astronauts. In those days, these aliens were considered gods because their abilities were (far) superior. Ever since we increased our military capabilities, we have been viewing aliens as creatures with covert hostile intentions. We trust aliens like we trust human strangers (ie, not!).
Moreover, humans have been developing philosophical beliefs of supremacy (eg, humans vs animals, humans vs nature, white supremacy). The danger of any of the 7 Belief systems is that people are willing to sacrifice their life for any cause in which they believe.
However, if evolution is (i) convergent (rather than random), and if this convergence aims for (ii) complex consciousness (rather than simplicity), then Beliefs cannot be the final stage of (human) consciousness. An Awakening should then follow. Also see my blogs on Needs, Wants & Beliefs and on Awakening.
“A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born.” A quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944), a French writer, poet, aristocrat, journalist and pioneering aviator.
Wide Awake (2012) by Katy Perry
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless stated otherwise.
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