Is it ignorant for some people to think that we are the only intelligent life form in the Universe?

Question

And why do you think that?

It would have probably been better for me to put lifeform on Earth as being the "intelligent life forms" in question. Thanks for pointing that out K BIZ

Answer 1

I do
Because I think that it would also be selfish to think that God would only create us.

Answer 2

I don't believe that is ignorant. Yes, the universe is a huge place, yes, there are many galaxies, stars and planets out threre. However the fact that planets exist, doesn't necesarly imply that life exists. I don't exactly know the numbers, but I remember someone saying that the odds of life apearing spontaneusly on Earth are about the same as a tornado going oever a scrapyard and constructing a fully operational Boeing 747. So, if the odds of life apearing are, let's say, 1:1bilionx1bilion, that means that there should be at least 2x1bilionx1bilion planets out there to have a small, very small chance for life to show up again .... I don't think is skepticism, as much as facing the odds.

Another interesting question that arrises, is what exactly do you consider to be inteligent ? Keep in mind that psychologicaly speaking inteligence is most often defined as the ability to adapt to enviromental changes ... Therefore, life could be extremly inteligent, yet never invent fire, the weel, or ever be interested in space travel. It's a matter of perspective.

Another interesting point for us being alone out here, is the relatively young age of the universe, currently accepted to be 13.7 billion years. The Sun and Earth are 4.5 billion years old ... and the first few billion years, while the First Generation stars existed, there was only hidrogen and helium out there ... so, unless there are some hidrogen based aliens out there (highly unlikely due mainly to the incredible fragility of such aliens) life became possible in the second, or third generation of stars. And surprise, surprise, the Sun is a third generation star ... So it's unlikely that life existed before our Sun was born. There might be aliens on other third generation solar systems, ofcourse, but the odds are extremly small, and it is unlikely they are a lot ahead of us when it comes to tehnology. Some scientist have even argued about why life apeared and evolved so FAST on Earth.

If you believe in God and that we were made in his own image, out His incredible love, why would he have created another image of himself ?

In the end, it all comes to belief. We don't have facts to relly on, so you can choose to belief that we are a miracle, or that we are a common chemical reaction that occurs everywhere. And just like religion, I don't think we should mock, or disrespect the beliefs of the other. It is their right to think whatever they want to think, and no it is not ignorant, cinism, arogance, or anothing else like that. It's called freedom of thinking. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

To not leave it open as a possibility is ignorant. And what is your definition of "intelligent?" I mean, if we found life as smart as a Dolphin, what would you call that? Me personally, I would consider "intelligent" as a life form that has figured out how to travel and live ouside its home planet. We are barely intelligent enough for that.

IMHO there definitely is not any extraterrestrials that know about Earth, and think about this: Humans have only been around for a very short time compared to the age of the universe, and we have only even be able to detect intelligent life for a couple of decades. If intelligent life ever existed who's to say they haven't been extinct for 100,000 years? Or on the other hand, maybe there is a planet out there with only simple bacteria that may one day evolve into intelligent life? The odds are bad enough that life exists at all, you have to subtract the odds that they will exist at the same time as humans.

Answer 4

The universe being so ridiculously huge, the probability of having other intelligent life in another galaxy or solar system is, I think, totally possible. However, the ability for us to get in contact with other intelligent life is another story. That, I think, is not very probable. Mainly because of two reasons: (1) The distance between us is too large (many light-years) that inter-galactic travel using conventional propulsion technology is not possible, and (2) even if they developed technology so advanced that they can travel across the universe, their race will not survive a self-inflicted war.

So, if we cannot make contact with other intelligent life, then it doesn't matter whether they exist or not, their existence will make no impact on our civilization and can simply be eliminated from our equation.

Answer 5

People can't understand how incredibly vast the universe is, and how remote the chances of us being the only occupants really are. Its possible we may never see another life form just because of the distance between us, but its almost a complete certainty that other life exists... and they are probably more intelligent than us.

Answer 6

Dr. Carl Sagan, a famed astronomer, stated back in the early 70's that "there is a galaxy for every grain of sand on the beach." We would have to be be very egomoniacle if we thought that "WE" were the only life out there. Whether or not you believe in little green men is beside the point, Just because "WE" can not live anywhere but here, the earth, does not mean that someone/thing does not live out there.

Answer 7

Not at all. A number of respected scientists have made calculations based on guesses as to the likelihood that intellegent life exists extraterrestrially. They simply are more pessimistic than say Carl Sagan, who was very optimisitic in my opinion. Reasonable people can disagree over this issue as there is no evidence one way or the other for either position. Hubris really has nothing to do with it.

Answer 8

No, many intelligent scientists accept the fact that we might be the only intelligent life in the universe.

If we are not, why haven't we found any other intelligent life?

Over billions of years, it would be expected for intelligent life to be filling the universe.

With telescopes we can see to the beginning of the universe. We have not detected any intelligent life yet.

Maybe it is because we are alone.

Answer 9

Let me pose this theory here. Maybe there are other human species out on different planets. If God made us in his image then he had to have made other beings else where or why else would he have made all the Universe and other planets.
My opinion on the question is this. If there aren't other beings out there then it really was an awful waste of space. If the Universe is infininant then we really have some exploring to do.
There has to be other beings out there, even if they green beings. Being as we are a relatively young species, there has to be others out there with much more developed civilizations.

Answer 10

most defiantly i mean there has to be given the fact that the universe is endless we are basically a spec. look at a star we humans have ever actually reached a start why cant each star be a solar system in its self with Lil plants revolving around them that we just cant see. maybe there's creatures out there maybe we are some how caught in some sort glitch that the universe keeps making solar parallel solar systems just like at diffrent rates some more advanced some less

Answer 11

I believe so. We already know we use only 10% of our brains. I think we have so much more potential, but are too egotistical to develop beyond what is currently accepted. The human race is divided in itself fighting about control, power, color, religion, territory, etc. We are not intelligent enough to unite through acceptance of our differences, for respecting those differences makes us stronger as a people. No, we think we are the top of the food chain and superior to all life as we know it. Our minds are closed because we do not want to consider losing control.
It is easier to hate and fear what we do not understand than to accept what is at face value appreciating what it is to the best of our ability.