Astrophysics, abstract
astro-ph/0408521

From: Milan M. Cirkovic [view email]

Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 10:40:52 GMT (617kb)

"Permanence" - An Adaptationist Solution to Fermi's Paradox?

Authors: Milan M. Cirkovic

Comments: 23 pages, 2 figures

Subj-class: Astrophysics; Physics and Society

A new solution of Fermi's paradox sketched by SF writer Karl Schroeder in his 2002. novel "Permanence" is critically investigated. It is argued that this solution is tightly connected with adaptationism - a widely discussed working hypothesis in evolutionary biology. Schroeder's hypothesis has important ramifications for astrobiology, SETI projects, and future studies. Its weaknesses should be explored without succumbing to the emotional reactions often accompanying adaptationist explanations.

http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0408521