Stephen Hawking Is Terrified Of An Alien Invasion, And The Reason Makes Nothing But Sense

[IDemo]

18. Hawking's perception of 'they' is very likely wrong

along with most who comment on the topic. The idea that any civilization far enough along scientifically and technologically to traverse vast interstellar space would still be existing as natural life forms is ludicrous. It has been seriously proposed by at least one prognosticator that humans will reach a tipping point this century and become increasingly linked with computer-based thinking, along with other superhuman capabilities. Whether that happens this century or anytime within the millennium, it would dramatically alter such motivations as resource wars or conquests for religious purposes.

It makes sense to know that any, any civilization would realize that their continued existence would be vastly better served by choosing to migrate into a machine state without the hazards or resource requirements of biological life. And it is entirely within reason that a very advanced civilization would have discovered even more elegant methods of existing and exploring the universe.

The concept of tentacled aliens piling into the intergalactic SUV and charging forth to vacation in or invade Earth makes for a few good chuckles on the Simpsons, but it's too cartoonish to be taken seriously.