The Fermi Paradox

[ClubMed]

Do you agree with the Fermi Paradox or not?

The Paradox, by Physicist Enrico Fermi, asks: "Where are they? Why haven't we seen any traces of intelligent extraterrestrial life?" Fermi was a strong believe in extraterrestrial life, and he spent most of his life working on this paradox trying to answer it.

If the universe is so massive, and if there are other worlds out there bearing life, shouldn't some of those forms of life have evolved to such a degree as to be able to travel throughout the galaxy using any means? Why haven't we met any yet? Or seen them or seen traces of them?.

Now I do believe in the possibility that there may be life out there. But I get stuck when thinking about the details

What are your thoughts about this?

CM.

[caddmannq]

Probably only a very tiny fraction of planets can sustain life at all.

Of those that can, half or more may only be roughly at our stage of development or less.

Those more developed may simply be uninterested, or may have been "bitten" and pulled back.

Of course, it may be totally impossibe for living creatures to achieve trans-light speeds and survive (if they can be achieved at all.) They may have been on the way here for thousands of years, and will not arrive for thousands more.

Or we may be a singular event in all the universe. I've never seen any proof that we're not. If there is other sentient life, they may think that they are a singular event in the universe, and may never have bothered to try finding out otherwise.

Or maybe they already have been here, and just don't like us

[daveleau]

Welcome back CM.

I believe that we are selfish to believe we are the only people here. It is like the geo-centric ideas that pervaded scientific thought in England for hundreds of years. I think God created life elsewhere in the universe. I think it is a huge leap to think that that species is more advanced than us, could travel the universe AND find us. I think that the bodies of aliens could be much different than us, b/c I while I know we were created in His image, I think this is talking about the soul and not the body. So, I think we would be surprised if we were to actually see aliens.


Dave

I guess we all think of the universe from our perspective and position. Extra terrestial life may be around us but we can't "see" it/them. When you think out of a box, your sense of imagination gets very restricted.

How was the holiday, club? Enjoyed yourself?

Good you are back so we can start the controversial topics once again.

[ClubMed]

The trip was great shahani

That's a good point shahani, if we search the stars looking for green, 3 legged and 9 eyed monsters we might over look a couple thousand life forms and conclude we are the only ones

My point exactly!!

When are you visiting SF? I thought you went there and didn't call me as you said you would.

[ClubMed]

Still planning that trip, it will probably be in Sept. Don't worry, I'll call you as promised

[Epidemic]

Perhaps the aliens have been here and this is where we get many of our former gods from.

My friend said to me if aliens have been here why did they not take over the earth. I thought for a while and decided if I were to come upon a mound of ants would I want to take them over. Nah I will look for a while and squish the ones that bite me.

You callin' us a mound of ants, Epidemic? Or did I misunderstand?

[ben-the-slacker]

I think Epidemic's saying that not all lifeforms are as warlike as us humans. They might fight only when provoked...

I definitely think there's many e.t. lifeforms out there that are much more advanced than us. But there are probably also many that are much less advanced.