Atheists: Do you believe in Extraterrestrial Intelligence?

Question

even though there's no scientific proof for it?

Answer 1

I'm agnostic to space aliens

The great thing about believing in them though is that it doesn't change the way people live their lives or make them infringe on other's beliefs

Answer 2

Atheism has nothing to do with the possibility of E.T. Intelligence. We know (proof) that one "Intelligent" civilization exists (us). We can extrapolate from that fact and our knowledge of the visible universe, that the existence of other Intelligences somewhere are possible if not probable.

Experiments sometimes produce results which cannot be explained with existing theories. In this case it is the job of scientists to produce new theories which replace the old ones. The new theories should explain all the observations and experiments the old theory did and, in addition, the new set of facts which lead to their development. One can say that new theories devour and assimilate old ones. Scientists continually test existing theories in order to probe how far can they be applied.

When an old theory cannot explain new observations it will be (eventually) replaced by a new theory. This does not mean that the old ones are ``wrong'' or ``untrue'', it only means that the old theory had a limited applicability and could not explain all current data. The only certain thing about currently accepted theories is that they explain all available data, which, if course, does not imply that they will explains all future experiments!

In some cases new theories provide not only extensions of old ones, but a completely new insight into the workings of nature. Thus when going from Newton's theory of gravitation to Einstein's our understanding of the nature of space and time was revolutionized. Nonetheless, no matter how beautiful and simple a new theory might be, it must explain the same phenomena the old one did. Even the most beautiful theory can be annihilated by a single ugly fact.

Scientific theories have various degrees of reliability and one can think of them as being on a scale of certainty. Up near the top end we have our theory of gravitation based on a staggering amount of evidence; down at the bottom we have the theory that the Earth is flat. In the middle we have our theory of the origin of the moons of Uranus. Some scientific theories are nearer the top than others, but none of them ever actually reach it.

An extraordinary claim is one that contradicts a fact that is close to the top of the certainty scale and will give rise to a lot of skepticism. So if you are trying to contradict such a fact, you had better have facts available that are even higher up the certainty scale:

"extraordinary evidence is needed for an extraordinary claim''.

Answer 3

You have a strange idea of what evidence is. 'Scientific proof' is a very slippery concept, and I think you should stay away from it.

OK, so there's no hard evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial life. Does that mean that it impossible? Of course not!

There's no hard evidence, but there's plenty of circumstantial evidence:

o We know that life *can* arise, because it has.
o We know from first principles that it's an unusual event.
o But not *that* unusual, given that on Earth life got going almost as soon as the planet was cool enough,
o We know it requires special circumstances: liquid water, low background radiation, restricted temperature range, a specific mix of available elements including metallicity.
o We know that other stars have planets, and that from statistics alone there should be many in our galaxy alone where the circumstances are appropriate.
o And there are countless billions of galaxy, each with hundreds of billions of stars.

Given such a balance, the chances of life arising elsewhere is apparently inevitable.

*Intelligent* life, on the other hand, may well be a flash in the pan. We've been around for a paltry few millions of years, and we're now easily capable of wuiping ourselves out. maybe we will. maybe all intelligent life does it after a while.

CD

Answer 4

I have no reason to believe in alien intelligence. When someone comes along with some actual proof then I can re-evaluate that but until then I do not believe in alien life. The same will go for religion and god(s). When someone comes around with some proof then I can re-evaulate my position on religon and gods.

Believing that alien life is possible is different because I can see how it is possible. There is no magic involved in the idea that there are billions of stars out there with billions of planets and that life can start elsewhere. However, I do not claim that there are aliens in the universe. I do see how that aliens are possible elsewhere in the universe, though.

You will find that many atheists are skeptics and critical thinkers. They will not blindly believe in anything. They will need proof.

Answer 5

I think it's highly probable that there is extraterrestrial intelligence. I base this on the Copernican principle, which holds that there should be nothing unusual about our place in the universe.

However, i don't believe that we have ever been contacted by extraterrestrial intelligence. The UFO evidence is just too flimsy.

(I think i know what you're getting at. Don't even *think* about comparing God to ET. We know that intelligent life is possible, because here we are. There's little reason to think that it couldn't happen on at least one other of the billions of billions of planets in the known universe. The same can't be said of God.)

Answer 6

No scientific proof, BUT it is not precluded by science.
Given the vastness of our universe, the odds are that there is life on distant planets. The existence of any of that life being intelligent in nature is possible. Though, the same vastness of the universe DOES preclude any possible intelligent life from reaching earth.

Extra-terrestrial life does not violate the laws of science.
An invisible man, living in the clouds, granting wishes, and performing magic is incompatible with science.

Answer 7

Actually, Isaac Asimov long ago wrote an article in which he proved, mathematically, that the chances of intelligent life existing somewhere in the infinite universe were so great that it was absurd not to accept it as reality.

He then demonstrated that the chances said life has or ever will visit Earth are so infinitesimally small that believing in that was equally absurd.

So, yes, I believe there is intelligent life out there (I sometimes wonder if we qualify ourselfs, as a species) and no, I don't think it has been visiting us.

Answer 8

The odds for extraterrestrial intelligence has a proof. Life evolved intelligence in at least one location. The chances are that there is more than one.

Answer 9

I've already explored the possibility for God as portrayed in the bible and came up empty handed. If I'm ever in space for years on end and still come up with zero proof, I won't believe in the possibility for that either. I definatley don't believe in "visitors" any more than I do angels.

Answer 10

If don't believe, I think there is a reasonable chance that in a universe so big in both spatial and temporal terms that life would arise more than once, if not here and now, then somewhere else in the future or the past.

I also think that UFO sightings and aliens abductions are bogus, there are no little green man hanging around.

Answer 11

Forget about extra terrestrial intelligence
I sometimes doubt terrestrial intelligence

It also depends on what you classify as intelligence. If it is DNA or carbon 'life' forms, I don't know. But if intelligence is defined as about a self preserving entity, something that gains knowledge and adapts, then there is a very high probability.