Alpha Centauri has a planet

[Angst]

The discovery of life on other planets would rip much of the humanities in half.

The discovery of intelligent life would rip much of our philosophy in half.

So much of our literary tradition and understanding of self is founded on the idea that we are the only intelligent thing ever. I know the idea is rightfully dissolving these years, but intelligent life will cause an identity crisis with all of us.

 

[El_Machinae]

And this is important because of what?

How about we learn to properly manage this planet before we take to the skies space and muck up anymore?

It depends where your priorities lie, I suppose. Starving millions billions or shiny bits of space junk.

Walk before you run, is the old adage.

Per capita spending on space 'toys' is approximately $50 per year. I think that if the true concern really is starving people (and I can agree that it's important), there're other activities and pursuits that should be criticised for their waste.

I'm sure that most of us throw out over $50 worth of food each year, food that required non-renewable resources to create. Or, I've spent more than $50 on an evening on the town. Or the video game, Alpha Centauri, cost around $50.

Maybe we should look to those when talking about starving people?

 

[Leonel]

TL;DR version: Astronomers used science to find a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri B. It's about Earth-sized, but so close to the star that it probably can't support life, which puts a dent in any Space Ship Victory Plans the scientists had.

Well according to Civ 2, the planet needed a domed settlement so I don't see how it would put a dent.


Link to video.

 

[Takhisis]

I think the problem for some may be that Genesis only talks about life being created on 1 planet.

Then again, different people will find objections for different reasons.

Genesis doesn't rule out other planets unless you want to go on a series of logical fallacies absed on the Earth being flat.

The discovery of life on other planets would rip much of the humanities in half.

The discovery of intelligent life would rip much of our philosophy in half.

So much of our literary tradition and understanding of self is founded on the idea that we are the only intelligent thing ever. I know the idea is rightfully dissolving these years, but intelligent life will cause an identity crisis with all of us.

Yes, even finding the evidence of an extinct civilisation would challenge most if not all of our beliefs. As I said when replaying to warpus, curiously enough, the Bible never says we're the only ones in the universe, but people have assigned such an interpretation to it because they/we can't conceive of other intelligent species existing.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Per capita spending on space 'toys' is approximately $50 per year. I think that if the true concern really is starving people (and I can agree that it's important), there're other activities and pursuits that should be criticised for their waste.

I'm sure that most of us throw out over $50 worth of food each year, food that required non-renewable resources to create. Or, I've spent more than $50 on an evening on the town. Or the video game, Alpha Centauri, cost around $50.

Maybe we should look to those when talking about starving people?

I agree with you here. And let's be realistic, to get colonies going on space, you need closed ecosystems, new medicines, new ways of producing lots of fortified nutritious crops and renewable energy sources on a huge scale. All of which apply directly to starving people.

These advances don't happen in a vacuum (pun not intended), they apply everywhere and will get used to help starving people and everyone else in all other kinds of interesting ways.

The discovery of life on other planets would rip much of the humanities in half.

The discovery of intelligent life would rip much of our philosophy in half.

So much of our literary tradition and understanding of self is founded on the idea that we are the only intelligent thing ever. I know the idea is rightfully dissolving these years, but intelligent life will cause an identity crisis with all of us.

I actually think our culture is doing a decent job for preparing us for the discovery of extra-terrestrial life and intelligence. We think about it, we joke about it, we write books and make movies that cover lots of aspects of this. Even if most of it is frivolous, it still prepares us to face this inevitability.

Religion, on the other hand, doesn't really address this and IMO isn't at all prepared to deal with this eventuality. I'm just curious what everyone's thoughts on this matter are.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

The discovery of life on other planets would rip much of the humanities in half.

The discovery of intelligent life would rip much of our philosophy in half.

So much of our literary tradition and understanding of self is founded on the idea that we are the only intelligent thing ever. I know the idea is rightfully dissolving these years, but intelligent life will cause an identity crisis with all of us.

I suppose this may be true for people who either never think of the possibility of life on other planets or who have thought about it and outright dismissed it. But come on - "rip much of the humanities in half"? The same for philosophy? Identity crisis?

The discovery of life elsewhere, intelligent or not, is precisely the kick in the pants our society needs to get us out of the social and scientific rut we've been stuck in for so long.

Yes, even finding the evidence of an extinct civilisation would challenge most if not all of our beliefs.

Why?

I actually think our culture is doing a decent job for preparing us for the discovery of extra-terrestrial life and intelligence. We think about it, we joke about it, we write books and make movies that cover lots of aspects of this. Even if most of it is frivolous, it still prepares us to face this inevitability.

Religion, on the other hand, doesn't really address this and IMO isn't at all prepared to deal with this eventuality. I'm just curious what everyone's thoughts on this matter are.

I would be ecstatic if life were found elsewhere, whether in our own Solar System or another. Mind you, I've been an astronomy buff for over 40 years, and a science fiction reader for nearly as long.

I have a button that says "The meek will inherit the Earth. The rest of us will go on to the Stars."

In other words, the meek will bury their heads in the sand about this, and fight/deny reality. The rest of us will accept the new knowledge, adjust our attitudes about our place in the Universe, and hopefully rejoice that we're not alone.

 

[warpus]

I think that evidence that there is other intelligent out there will change the human mindset. It's not going to be anything mindblowing.. It's just going to make us look differently at the world in certain respects. Maybe a similar change as when the Aztecs went from their usual motions to realizing that there is an advanced civilization on a continent on the same planet?

That might not happen for centuries though.. if ever. The discovery any sort of extraterrestial life, intelligent or not, is going to come a lot sooner.. And I don't think that is going to have such a large impact on how we view the universe and life as a species.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I suppose this may be true for people who either never think of the possibility of life on other planets or who have thought about it and outright dismissed it. But come on - "rip much of the humanities in half"? The same for philosophy? Identity crisis?

The discovery of life elsewhere, intelligent or not, is precisely the kick in the pants our society needs to get us out of the social and scientific rut we've been stuck in for so long.

I also felt his proclamation went a bit too far. Even from the religious angle, I don't think religious people won't be able to come to grips with it. I think it'll instead cause more basic questions, problems and issues to be raised with religion in general that will cause the clergy pause. Who's image is ET made in and all that?

I would be ecstatic if life were found elsewhere, whether in our own Solar System or another. Mind you, I've been an astronomy buff for over 40 years, and a science fiction reader for nearly as long.

I have a button that says "The meek will inherit the Earth. The rest of us will go on to the Stars."

In other words, the meek will bury their heads in the sand about this, and fight/deny reality. The rest of us will accept the new knowledge, adjust our attitudes about our place in the Universe, and hopefully rejoice that we're not alone.

I am hopeful too. But man do we have a stained history that says otherwise.

I think that evidence that there is other intelligent out there will change the human mindset. It's not going to be anything mindblowing.. It's just going to make us look differently at the world in certain respects. Maybe a similar change as when the Aztecs went from their usual motions to realizing that there is an advanced civilization on a continent on the same planet?

That might not happen for centuries though.. if ever. The discovery any sort of extraterrestial life, intelligent or not, is going to come a lot sooner.. And I don't think that is going to have such a large impact on how we view the universe and life as a species.

I think the discovery of non-intelligent life will have immediate, major ramifications for our society. I do agree though that it is only decades away at most. But finding any life will cause us to immediately start pondering a lot, least of which will be 'where is ET?' in a serious way.

 

[bhsup]

I also felt his proclamation went a bit too far. Even from the religious angle, I don't think religious people won't be able to come to grips with it. I think it'll instead cause more basic questions, problems and issues to be raised with religion in general that will cause the clergy pause. Who's image is ET made in and all that?

I realize this is probably not a majority of religious folk, but I've always though the assumption that life exists solely here on earth to be the height of human arrogance. Out of God's entire, vast, endless, blah blah creation, he would choose one little ball of rock and mud on the edge of one galaxy to seed with life? That's...well that's just so totally the opposite of what I think. I think its teeming with life out there.

 

[warpus]

I think the discovery of non-intelligent life will have immediate, major ramifications for our society. I do agree though that it is only decades away at most. But finding any life will cause us to immediately start pondering a lot, least of which will be 'where is ET?' in a serious way.

Well, it will have either of 2 near-immediate ramifications (assuming we can get a hold of this life and study it): Either 1. Whoa, this life has a common ancestor with life on Earth or 2. Whoa, this life developed independently of life on Earth

Maybe I wouldn't be so shocked, because I happen to think that it's just inevitable that there is life out there. Heck, life from Earth could have ended up on other planets via meteors (i.e. panspermia).. So maybe it's just me but I don't think that the discovery of non-intelligent life will be such a big change. I think it might make people say "wow!" initially, but then things will go on as usual.. with intelligent life out there though - I think our lives would change forever.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I realize this is probably not a majority of religious folk, but I've always though the assumption that life exists solely here on earth to be the height of human arrogance. Out of God's entire, vast, endless, blah blah creation, he would choose one little ball of rock and mud on the edge of one galaxy to seed with life? That's...well that's just so totally the opposite of what I think. I think its teeming with life out there.

What an interesting and enlightened point of view. Thank you for sharing that.

Do you think intelligent extra terrestrial life will have any impact on your religious beliefs?

Well, it will have either of 2 near-immediate ramifications (assuming we can get a hold of this life and study it): Either 1. Whoa, this life has a common ancestor with life on Earth or 2. Whoa, this life developed independently of life on Earth

Maybe I wouldn't be so shocked, because I happen to think that it's just inevitable that there is life out there. Heck, life from Earth could have ended up on other planets via meteors (i.e. panspermia).. So maybe it's just me but I don't think that the discovery of non-intelligent life will be such a big change. I think it might make people say "wow!" initially, but then things will go on as usual.. with intelligent life out there though - I think our lives would change forever.

Fair enough. But I do predict an explosion of SF movies and 'the Universe' style TV shows.

 

[bhsup]

Oh. No, not at all. I should have specified that. I -meant- teeming with intelligent life out there.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Oh. No, not at all. I should have specified that. I -meant- teeming with intelligent life out there.

The thing is - I totally get this perspective and share it. I'd just be surprised if this was the perspective of most religious folk or the clergy. But then again, I wouldn't begin to claim that I know it would be this way. That's why I've been asking you and others.

 

[classical_hero]

I realize this is probably not a majority of religious folk, but I've always though the assumption that life exists solely here on earth to be the height of human arrogance. Out of God's entire, vast, endless, blah blah creation, he would choose one little ball of rock and mud on the edge of one galaxy to seed with life? That's...well that's just so totally the opposite of what I think. I think its teeming with life out there.

That is arrogance right there. If you can't trust what God said in his word, why are you trusting anything else he said? God said he created life on earth and he created earth as a place for us to live on. Earth was specifically made for us to live on.

 

[bhsup]

And nowhere does it say he didn't create life elsewhere in his creation. It doesn't even remotely come close to implying that.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Hey VRWCAgent, someone had to prove my hunch!

 

[bhsup]

Hehe Though in CH's defense, it doesn't say he did either, and I pointed out earlier that my views are not a majority view.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Hehe Though in CH's defense, it doesn't say he did either, and I pointed out earlier that my views are not a majority view.

While I can understand why people might not believe there is E.T. life, basing that judgement call on the Bible is a bit silly. I don't mean that the Bible itself is silly and I'm not knocking it's accuracy.

It's just that it's silent on the subject and there are so many billions upon billions (RIP Sagan) of planets out there...it's a matter of statistics and probabilities.

 

[El_Machinae]

That is arrogance right there. If you can't trust what God said in his word, why are you trusting anything else he said? God said he created life on earth and he created earth as a place for us to live on. Earth was specifically made for us to live on.

God's promise (if you believe Him) to Abraham becomes incredibly more epic with a modern understanding of astronomy.

 

[warpus]

Didn't God create us in his image?

Not to take this thread on an event more divergent tangent, but.. Does that mean that from a Biblical perspective other intelligent life in the universe should be humanoid?