Post by dividavi on May 19, 2017 21:27:04 GMT
I copied this off Quora. I think the writer underestimates the possibility of interstellar conflict. Essentially he feels that the Space Aliens would act as rational beings and avoid trouble. But that's bad reasoning IMO. The motivations of different species can only be surmised, never known for certain. Space Aliens would realize that Earthlings are a potential threat and always will be. The Space Aliens might decide the only way to avoid an actual threat is to wipe us out. My thoughts anyway.
If aliens landed on earth, how likely would it be that they take over the planet after finding out that their technology is far more advanced than ours?
Ju Ba
Ju Ba, Heavy reader of many subjects, Internet philosopher.
Answered May 11
Unlikely. Stephen Hawking proposes that if aliens came they would almost certainly be hostile, and absolutely would wipe us out if they were. He bases this assumption upon a well thought out line of reasoning;
Technology = large brain = large energy demand = large calorial intake = carnivore = predatory species = hostile instincts = murder all humans. Its not far fetched, and certainly a possibility. And make no mistake, if an alien species were hostile it wouldnt be humans vs aliens a la` 'Independence day', it would be more like Roman Legions vs F-22s and M1A1s. It would be quick, decisive, and very bad for us. I would go a different direction, however.
Yes, I believe ALL of those points are accurate. However, I believe there are a few missing crucial steps. We arent just talking about technology, but A LOT of advanced tech. For these things to happen you need the exact set of circumstances necessary to not only provide a species capable of producing this tech, but also keeping the species alive long enough to do it. Barring meteor strikes, disease, famine, etc, there is war. Yes, they would probably have a violent past, including war. But like us, they would achieve a level of technological advancement capable of wiping themselves out. To prevent doing this requires a U-social species such as us. And to achieve the level of technology required for long distance interstellar travel requires a species-wide degree of unity. This means that while they were at one point predatory and aggressive, they most likely got to a point where they became unified as a species; transcending their violent nature as a necessity for continued survival. With this comes a degree of compassion and respect for life. If they were desperate for a resource and only earth had it, we would be in trouble. But for every life-harboring planet theres most likely hundreds of millions that have none. It would be far easier and more politically correct for them to go elsewhere than to initiate mass genocide, and then risk exposure to foreign microbes.
Is it possible that they would detonate a planet-wide EMP, watch us destroy ourselves, starve, collapse our society and military command structures within days, and then come in and wipe us out with almost no losses? Sure. But while a scientific mind deviates toward 'we'd be screwed' a historically oriented mindset realizes that such a predilection toward violence would have most likely resulted in their species collapsing upon itself due to internal struggles several thousand years before even developing the tech to arrive. This mindset also makes it abundantly clear the path we are on as well. At some point we, as a species, will have to abandon free will in order to become a truly unified species and earn our place among the stars, or some distant generation will bear witness as we cannibalize our society in favor of personal interest.
If aliens landed on earth, how likely would it be that they take over the planet after finding out that their technology is far more advanced than ours?
Ju Ba
Ju Ba, Heavy reader of many subjects, Internet philosopher.
Answered May 11
Unlikely. Stephen Hawking proposes that if aliens came they would almost certainly be hostile, and absolutely would wipe us out if they were. He bases this assumption upon a well thought out line of reasoning;
Technology = large brain = large energy demand = large calorial intake = carnivore = predatory species = hostile instincts = murder all humans. Its not far fetched, and certainly a possibility. And make no mistake, if an alien species were hostile it wouldnt be humans vs aliens a la` 'Independence day', it would be more like Roman Legions vs F-22s and M1A1s. It would be quick, decisive, and very bad for us. I would go a different direction, however.
Yes, I believe ALL of those points are accurate. However, I believe there are a few missing crucial steps. We arent just talking about technology, but A LOT of advanced tech. For these things to happen you need the exact set of circumstances necessary to not only provide a species capable of producing this tech, but also keeping the species alive long enough to do it. Barring meteor strikes, disease, famine, etc, there is war. Yes, they would probably have a violent past, including war. But like us, they would achieve a level of technological advancement capable of wiping themselves out. To prevent doing this requires a U-social species such as us. And to achieve the level of technology required for long distance interstellar travel requires a species-wide degree of unity. This means that while they were at one point predatory and aggressive, they most likely got to a point where they became unified as a species; transcending their violent nature as a necessity for continued survival. With this comes a degree of compassion and respect for life. If they were desperate for a resource and only earth had it, we would be in trouble. But for every life-harboring planet theres most likely hundreds of millions that have none. It would be far easier and more politically correct for them to go elsewhere than to initiate mass genocide, and then risk exposure to foreign microbes.
Is it possible that they would detonate a planet-wide EMP, watch us destroy ourselves, starve, collapse our society and military command structures within days, and then come in and wipe us out with almost no losses? Sure. But while a scientific mind deviates toward 'we'd be screwed' a historically oriented mindset realizes that such a predilection toward violence would have most likely resulted in their species collapsing upon itself due to internal struggles several thousand years before even developing the tech to arrive. This mindset also makes it abundantly clear the path we are on as well. At some point we, as a species, will have to abandon free will in order to become a truly unified species and earn our place among the stars, or some distant generation will bear witness as we cannibalize our society in favor of personal interest.
