Further question on Heidi’s Hypothesis - If the hypothesis is not correct what other explanation is there?

Question

If we are not the most intelligent life form in the universe, why hasn’t any other life form developed super advanced travel systems and influenced our lives? Surely if we are so primitive, they would have found us interesting just as we find ants, cockroaches and snails interesting, so interesting that we keep some of these lower intelligent animals as pets or samples for testing and experimenting.

Surely we would be conscious of such activity, just like our pets or lab animals if we were captured, tested upon or kept as pets, if we were in the same position as these other life forms which we have?

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Answer 1

Given the distances required for interstellar travel (many light years, perhaps thousands of light years), it is quite possible that the laws of physics don't even allow for us to visit other planets that might have life.

Answer 2

Since we have no way of knowing what the scale may be in another's universe, we do not know whether we may be as insignificant as a speck of dust and, therefore, below another being's notice.

Consider: are we aware of bacteria or viruses (other than when they attack us) unless we look for them under a microscope?

We only notice ants, cockroaches, etc. because they are large enough for us to see. Do you notice all the bacteria and viruses that may be lurking on your keyboard or mouse at this very instant. If we don't see them or aren't aware of their presence (even though we are told that they exist), we do nothing about them and the majority of them are probably unaware of our presence.

Likewise, if we are too insignificant for other beings to notice us and they are so large as to be indescernible as beings to us, then maybe they are out there, maybe they aren't.

To another being, we might just be microbes and our entire universe might just be in some giant's shirt pocket!

Alternatively, the size question might be reversed as in a television programme, many years ago, when space travellers were approaching and in contact by radio with some guy. The travellers landed and found they were in deep water and in danger of drowning. The guy goes outside to try to help, steps in a puddle and crushes the travellers underfoot.

Answer 3

I must add my support to Thomas M. The numbers of stars out there is overwhelming, so I consider it highly unlikely that there is not intelligent life out there somewhere. But what we know about physics rules out a "super advanced travel system" that exceeds light speed. ( I know, maybe there is a way - but that's really total speculation, and therefore a slim basis for your theory ). If we assume that there is one civilization per large galaxy, then even at near light speed they would have had to leave their home about 3 million years ago to reach us today. Of course, they would have had no reason to head in our direction back then. And when they get home, 6 million years will have passed. Not a big reward for the heroic traveler. The distances are positively daunting.

Answer 4

You are operating under assumption that super intelligent life has to exist or not at all. Why would interstellar travel be the measure by which you judge the level of their superior intelligence?

Maybe they are perfectly happy where they are and their intelligence can more be measure by their ability to know that interstellar travel is not practical. We may be just primitive enough to think that it is.

Answer 5

Well, the Universe is such a big place, maybe they don't know in which direction to travel to discover us here on little old insignificant Earth!
We havn't exactly been able to advertise our existance for very long so far....

Answer 6

Yeah, you'd think by now people would be claiming to see UFO's in the sky or something.

I guess that proves it then....

Answer 7

you know a HYPOTHESIS is just an EDUCATED GUESS & is NOT being examinated YET . so until a HYPOTHESIS is not being examinated yet, it remains a POSITIVE or a NEGATIVE answer. or not yet TRUE!