Life in the Universe
This is a very well-made video on the subject of whether we're alone in the universe.
I wonder how others are struck by the argument that we should be looking for microbes, not civilizations? The filmmaker argues that civilizations last for only a blip in time, while microbes are around for billions of years. I think civilization as a phenomenon might be a bit longer-lived than he credits it. In fact, we don't really know how long we can expect a civilization, much less a technological civilization, to last seeing as we are still in the very early days of both.
Hat-tip: Boulder Futurists.
Comments
Phil:
I agree that the narrator was unduly pessimistic about finding civilations.
Not only is he not giving enough credit to the possibility of our civilization lasting, he didn't give enough credit to ancient civilizations.
The ancient Roman and Egyptian civilizations didn't die. Saying that they did makes nice chapter divisions in a history book, but really, they evolved.
Are people who were living then ancestors to people who are living today? Yes.
Do we have a cultural heritage that includes ideas and technologies that were developed then? Yes.
Civilization hasn't died since it was born.
Posted by: Stephen Gordon![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.blog.speculist.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 7, 2007 08:15 AM
It's not unlike the fact that the set of microbes we have today is very different from what existed 3 billion years ago. Sure, many have hung on but many more have evolved and developed. We should cut civilization at least as much slack as we cut microbes!
Posted by: Phil Bowermaster![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.blog.speculist.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 7, 2007 08:19 AM