Do you think intelligent life exists outside of Earth and our solar system? If so, do you think they’ve never visited Earth?
Discussion
Statistically speaking I think it’s almost a certainty that some sort of life exists in every universe. But I’m not sure if the odds are in favor of it being intelligent.
Visited? Unlikely. I think we humans have a terrible grasp of distances between systems and what it means for windows of opportunity to encounter life, here or elsewhere.
Every galaxy *
I agree we have a terrible grasp of distance between systems. But I also think it’s likely we have a very narrow and limited ability to traverse space time with only traditional propulsion. Implying those distances would shrink with an abstract alternative in the speed and/or distance manipulation category.
Why do you think odds are low for intelligence?
Well, I can’t recall what I watched one time - a tv show I think, and in this show, the longest living creatures in the universe were extremely dumb but excellent team players who knew their roles and lived almost on autopilot.
I think it’s not a far fetched idea that to survive for a long time, you have to be very dumb. Any sign of intelligence (as in human or beyond) probably results in some sort of a catastrophic outcome - be it self-annihilation or destroying the habitat. To become a type 2 of 3 civilization is probably very difficult. Even if you do make it to a solar empire stage, you probably don’t last long enough to have your paths intersect with some other life form due to sheer distances beyond a solar system.