Would more depend on how advanced they were. Let's say we don't discover them, but they discover us. At a stroke the entire power dynamic on Earth changes, especially if they're as rapacious as we are. Worse for the American/Chinese/Russian mindset would be if they are, instead, selflessly benevolent and start handing out technology to give everyone access to limitless Green power, nutritious foods etc., oh and we'll be taking those weapons away from you in case you hurt yourself... Or they turn up and it's all, "Explain how these gods work again?" "You haven't banned social media yet?" "You eat other living things?" Or worse, "We've been trying to reach you about your planet's extended warranty".
I think that response lacks imagination. A large minority of people will take a religious interpretation, which I doubt would be psychologically healthy for humanity as a whole, while the more rational would realise two things. Either: there's a superior technological alien race out there that had the resources to relocate us, AND which is prepared to meddle. That's troubling. Or: humanity did it to itself. Which means there are higher-tech ancient humans out there, also prepared to meddle. Where are they now? The idea that current humanity could swallow any of those ideas with equanimity seems ... optimistic ... to me.
Convergent evolution happens all the time on Earth. The odds of an Earth-like planet forming elsewhere in the universe are currently incalculable but it's a big universe so it's possible. It's even more possible that, under similar conditions, mammals would evolve and eventually a subgroup of bipedal primates could emerge. Whether they'd become anything like us would be another matter, though. Anyway on the subject of finding similar species on other planets I highly recommend Anthony Boucher's short story "The Ambassadors".
I actually think this is more likely than aliens being completely different. If Earth can reinvent the crab over and over I'm sure the universe can reinvent the humanoid. Probably subtly differences like skin tones, minor adaptations to environment like thicker limbs on a cold planet or being extra tall on a grassy planet.
I'm sorry, but while it's unlikely, I don't think it would be any tremendous issue for people if there were humans on other planets.
ReplyDeleteWould more depend on how advanced they were. Let's say we don't discover them, but they discover us. At a stroke the entire power dynamic on Earth changes, especially if they're as rapacious as we are. Worse for the American/Chinese/Russian mindset would be if they are, instead, selflessly benevolent and start handing out technology to give everyone access to limitless Green power, nutritious foods etc., oh and we'll be taking those weapons away from you in case you hurt yourself...
DeleteOr they turn up and it's all, "Explain how these gods work again?" "You haven't banned social media yet?" "You eat other living things?"
Or worse, "We've been trying to reach you about your planet's extended warranty".
I think that response lacks imagination. A large minority of people will take a religious interpretation, which I doubt would be psychologically healthy for humanity as a whole, while the more rational would realise two things. Either: there's a superior technological alien race out there that had the resources to relocate us, AND which is prepared to meddle. That's troubling. Or: humanity did it to itself. Which means there are higher-tech ancient humans out there, also prepared to meddle. Where are they now?
ReplyDeleteThe idea that current humanity could swallow any of those ideas with equanimity seems ... optimistic ... to me.
Convergent evolution happens all the time on Earth. The odds of an Earth-like planet forming elsewhere in the universe are currently incalculable but it's a big universe so it's possible. It's even more possible that, under similar conditions, mammals would evolve and eventually a subgroup of bipedal primates could emerge. Whether they'd become anything like us would be another matter, though.
ReplyDeleteAnyway on the subject of finding similar species on other planets I highly recommend Anthony Boucher's short story "The Ambassadors".
I actually think this is more likely than aliens being completely different. If Earth can reinvent the crab over and over I'm sure the universe can reinvent the humanoid. Probably subtly differences like skin tones, minor adaptations to environment like thicker limbs on a cold planet or being extra tall on a grassy planet.
ReplyDelete