"We wouldn't even be able to recognize each other as sentient."
Hmmm, I don't know about that, but as of right now, I would recognize a sentient.
Robert put it well here: "Intelligence arising on life-bearing planets? Well, OK, there is some room for debate, especially if you allow for the definitional question of "what is intelligence?" I think our variety arose from the sociability of our species, and maybe that's rare, but maybe not. Cooperation demonstrably facilitates species survival, and I have a hard time believing that nowhere else in the universe did a species hit upon that particular strategy."
Nor on Earth. Other than humans, other species on Earth have sentient beings and I don't doubt that they know it. In the wild, animals have learned to live together and know where to draw lines, etc. Call it instinct or intelligence, but it's there.
Space/Science » in reply to That is the definition of "alien".
re: That is the definition of "alien".
The whole thread (49 posts)
- Many, Perhaps Most, Nearby Sun-Like Stars May Form Rocky Planets
- There's no PROOF for their claim. (n/t)
- Translation: Very good news for SETI weenies.
- I was never too worried about it
- How about admitting: "We don't know"...and search from there
- re: I was never too worried about it
- colonization's always been a one-way trip
- It's obvious you don't believe space aliens will be Democrats. (n/t)
- "Intelligence"
- Fermi Shmermi
- It is just nice...
- I was never too worried about it