Heartland

Don't talk to aliens, warns Hawking

I've always thought the same as the good Doctor - that the numbers statistically favour the evolution of life elsewhere.

He does run counter to Arthur Clarke or Isaac Asimov though, in suggesting that races capable of interstellar travel could be hostile. They both argued that evolving far enough to develop the technology would also see a respective evolution of morals and ethics that would render conflict abhorrent.

Opinions?

If they're giant squids I'm off.

This dude will sort them out;

Gordon's alive?

Hom_Corleone wrote:If they're giant squids I'm off.

giant squid = giant squid risotto

The numbers don't really mean anything. On the one hand, the sheer number of things that have to happen the right way for life to evolve at all make it incredibly unlikely that it would have happened twice. On the other, the sheer size of the universe means that it's almost bound to have happened somewhere else. But it's infinite monkeys writing Shakespeare. No matter how infinite the number, the're more likely to sniff the typewriters, decide they aren’t good to eat and then pull out the ribbons just for something to do.

Staistics mean whatever you want them to mean and can't tell you that aliens exist, only that they might, which you already knew.

Back in time wrote:

Hom_Corleone wrote:If they're giant squids I'm off.

giant squid = giant squid risotto

I for one welcome our new molluscular overlords.

I dunno, you could do a whole lot worse than giant squids. At least they'd keep the oceans clean.

timsinister wrote:Don't talk to aliens, warns Hawking

I've always thought the same as the good Doctor - that the numbers statistically favour the evolution of life elsewhere.

He does run counter to Arthur Clarke or Isaac Asimov though, in suggesting that races capable of interstellar travel could be hostile. They both argued that evolving far enough to develop the technology would also see a respective evolution of morals and ethics that would render conflict abhorrent.

Opinions?

I reject the Enlightenment equation of technological progress with moral progress for human beings, so I'd be inclined to agree with Hawking that it wouldn't be the case for non-human beings either. Clarke and Asimov presuppose it, I gather.

sultan2075 wrote:I reject the Enlightenment equation of technological progress with moral progress for human beings,

There is an argument (sadly with some merit IMO) that we don't see any alien civilisations because any species that reaches our technological level inevitably destroys itself (via war, environmental collapse, or even accident) before they can become a proper space-faring civilisation. One of the more depressing possible solutions to the Fermi paradox.

sultan2075 wrote:so I'd be inclined to agree with Hawking that it wouldn't be the case for non-human beings either. Clarke and Asimov presuppose it, I gather.

The problem is, if Hawking is right, we've already been blasting out radio emissions for a good while that we can't do anything about. If they're out there looking for us, they'll find us.

EvilBastard wrote: I for one welcome our new molluscular overlords.

Oh God, I am going to be thinking all day what that is paraphrasing....

streamline wrote:

EvilBastard wrote: I for one welcome our new molluscular overlords.

Oh God, I am going to be thinking all day what that is paraphrasing....

The Simpsons - Ken Brockman!

You've missed out the T, you silly Kent!

timsinister wrote:You've missed out the T, you silly Kent!

shi I'm such a i

weebleswobble wrote: The Simpsons - Kent Brockman!

Thanks Weebs!!

It was driving me nuts!!! (No rude comments please..... )

Back in time wrote:

Hom_Corleone wrote:If they're giant squids I'm off.

giant squid = giant squid risotto

I like your style

hawkin(g)s + giant space squid = video for I Believe In A Thing Called Love.

sorted.

Good Grief, you can't stop anything getting onto that topic can you?

i didn't start this thread!

and.. umm... no.

emilystrange wrote:hawkin(g)s + giant space squid = video for I Believe In A Thing Called Love.

sorted.

Hawkwind(s) + giant space squid = a truly incredible new album