Re: In a another galaxy far, far away. . .

On Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:23:12 -0500, Davoud <star@xxxxxxx> wrote, in
part:
Martin R. Howell:

--I believe that the fact we are here is proof of the fact that we are not
alone.

This is obviously some strange usage of the word "proof" that I wasn't
previously aware of.

Douglas Adams notwithstanding, one *can* tighten up the argument a
little.

If we are the only planet in the Universe on which there is
_intelligent_ life (for purposes of this discussion, intelligent life is
defined as life potentially capable of developing artificial means for
space travel and/or radio communications), then, the fact that life
arose on Earth shortly after its surface stopped being molten is
significant. It indicates that it is probable for life to emerge on any
planet where conditions are suitable.

Observations of the rotation speed of stars let us know that planetary
systems are common, and more recent detection of extra-solar planets has
confirmed this.

Hence, it is reasonable to conclude that it is highly probable that
there are billions of life-bearing planets in the Universe.

The recent book "Rare Earths" does note that galaxies may have a
"habitable zone" the way solar systems do; the abundance of heavy
elements, that marks the distinction between Population I and Population
II stars, may lead to some planets having too many asteroid impacts for
life to develop far, and to others being bereft of metals with which to
develop technology.

Given that it took so long on Earth for *us* to come along, it is not
clear, though, that intelligent life is something that always happens
given the opportunity. On Earth, it happened in just under half the
available time until the Sun left the Main Sequence.

Also, due to the immense oxygen and nutrient consumption of the human
brain, it appears its evolutionary hypertrophy was stimulated by sexual
selection, the same random force that gave rise to the tail of the
pea*** or the antlers of the Irish Elk.

Thus, the numbers for intelligent life may be low, and the possibility
that we may be alone in the Universe cannot be completely eliminated.

Furthermore, studies of Earth's history show us that most civilizations,
for example those of China and the Islamic world, end up suppressing
technological progress because of percieved threats to social stability,
and hence the power of the ruler or ruling elite. Europe only avoided
this trap because its geography kept it the domain of multiple states,
each of which was forced to keep up with its neighbors technologically,
else its rulers would be deposed through foreign conquest. Thus, even a
planet with intelligent aliens runs a high risk of stagnation which
prevents it from progressing enough to encounter us.

This fact may well permit contradiction of Arthur C. Clarke's dictum
that we may "encounter apes or angels, but never men" in space, which
seemed very reasonable from what we knew of space and life.

John Savard
http://www.quadibloc.com/index.html
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