Aliens: Yes Or No?

[Morrus]

And saying "Aliens must exist somewhere!" is like concluding the Loch Ness Monster does exist, after the same amount of investigation.

No, we're talking about reasoning and probability. Most folks, I think, would agree that basic reasoning would lead to the following conclusions:

• The probability that the Loch Ness Monster exists is very low.
• The probability that alien life is out there somewhere is very high.

Neither, of course, is a definitive statement.

It is the simplest explanation for the fact that we have seen no evidence whatsoever of life beyond our own world.

Is it, though? Surely the simplest explanation for not having found something yet is simply that you haven't found it yet.

If there were a "We don't know and it's absurd to make any kind of definitive claim" option, I'd have picked that. But if I have to make the absurd choice and say yes or no, I'm going with Occam's Razor here.

'Absurd' is a strong word. It's just a bit of fun. A conversation with friends.

 

[le Redoutable]

Well, you might also say that super Heroes don't exist, and so did I until I actually encountered some

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Dunno.

Odds are there is certainly life out there, and most probably intelligent life.

Visit here? Pffft. A species intelligent enough to solve interstellar travel would not be coming here to lurk in the shadows.

 

[Dausuul]

No, we're talking about reasoning and probability. Most folks, I think, would agree that basic reasoning would lead to the following conclusions:

• The probability that the Loch Ness Monster exists is very low.
• The probability that alien life is out there somewhere is very high.

It is true that "most folks" agree with this. It's not because of basic reasoning, though; it's an argument from incredulity. Look at the size of the universe, the probability of intelligent life arising can't possibly be so low that all those stars and planets are devoid of intelligence!

Except, it certainly can be that low. The universe is full of absolutely ludicrous numbers whose hugeness and smallness overwhelms human intuition. Our instincts are not better than nothing in this context -- they are nothing.

 

[le Redoutable]

Euh I 've also encountered Jesus, in Paris at Châtelet les Halles...
En gros, all exists
( For example, the men in black from the matrix )

 

[le Redoutable]

... and Jean Grey is the daughter of Stan Lee

 

[tomBitonti]

No, we're talking about reasoning and probability. Most folks, I think, would agree that basic reasoning would lead to the following conclusions:

• The probability that the Loch Ness Monster exists is very low.
• The probability that alien life is out there somewhere is very high.

I think their point was that the probability of alien life cannot be stated with any certainty. We are speculating in the absence of meaningful data.

Edit: Also, I’m not sure that “Most folks would agree …”. But even if they did, does it matter? “Most folks” can be rather misinformed on a variety of topics.

TomB

 

[cranberry]

I'd like to believe that in the vastness of space and time, that other intelligent life has formed elsewhere.

However, the likelihood of intelligent life forming "near" us is very unlikely...

Also, assuming biological life somewhat similar to ours...carbon based, air breathing, etc, all of the conditions on the planet they're from would have to occur in very specific proportions.

There are numerous roadblocks along the way to intelligent life - everything from climate conditions to predators. For example, if the dinosaurs didn't go extinct, we probably wouldn't exist (at least in our current form)

Further, it's possible that we may be in the wrong time to meet aliens. In other words, the aliens may have come before us and died out, or will come after we have died out.

Random thought - the first aliens we meet will likely be robotic probes. Unless these aliens have developed some sort of warp drive, traveling between distant stars within a mortal lifetime isn't possible.

 

[le Redoutable]

and Martians could be covered with invisibility ( like other planets )

 

[Morrus]

I think their point was that the probability of alien life cannot be stated with any certainty. We are speculating in the absence of meaningful data.

Obviously.

Edit: Also, I’m not sure that “Most folks would agree …”. But even if they did, does it matter?

No, none of this matters.