Longing for aliens.

Humanity is an organism without company. It played with animals on this Earth, managed to destroy some, to even primitively communicate with them, but it was not the real thing.

It is, as a sentient entity, apparently alone on this planet. There is nobody around for it to talk to, nobody to show it a different way of living.

When cells in its organism are proud of the organism itself, the pride comes not out of comparing itself and its accomplishments with another entity, but with its past self. “Look how I grew, and look at me two hundred years ago! Ain’t I gorgeous? — Says Humanity to the empty space.”

…

I really wonder what would happen if sentient and intelligent beings, with a civilization of their own, were to come to Earth and start interacting with us. It would be like humanity finally finding someone to talk to, someone to compare ourselves with. So far we’ve only been talking to ourselves, repeatedly screwing ourselves up yet in general still managed to grow and evolve on some levels.

But how radically could this process of growth be affected by the appearance of a whole other intelligent race coming out of the unknown of space? Our science fiction stories would say anything from “they will come to destroy us” to “they will lead us into an era of peace and prosperity” (Star Trek: First Contact), but that is just more of talking with ourselves.

I’ve no idea, but it seems like an interesting thought to ponder. I would assume though that it would have quite a radical effect. Suddenly the powers of our world would find somebody up there to worry about.

Tags: Philosophy