General Discussion

kentauros

(29,414 posts)

50. That's a lot of assumption for a scientist.

Wed Sep 3, 2014, 11:08 PM

Sep 2014

I thought doing that kind of thing was a big no-no?

Perhaps Hawking and Tyson need to read more Stanislaw Lem to get a better impression of how incomprehensible advanced alien life is likely to be. For any alien species to "understand" us by observation alone, they'd need context of our actions, including our thoughts, emotions, and our full lifetime of personal environment (social, and physical.)

It's a common mistake I see online everywhere. To overlay human emotions and thought processes onto something not at all human, to predict how the non-humans will react. We have no way of knowing, and it's absolutely wrong to assume we have any inkling of understanding.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

73 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Stephen Hawking Is Terrified Of An Alien Invasion, And The Reason Makes Nothing But Sense [View all] eridani Sep 2014 OP

so are the republicans, different aliens I think still_one Sep 2014 #1

We could be even less than worms LittleBlue Sep 2014 #2

Republicans act like their brains were already sucked out. Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #3

That's funny, and kinda true. mountain grammy Sep 2014 #48

NdGT for the win. progressoid Sep 2014 #4

Actually it's nonsense from Hawking. Scootaloo Sep 2014 #5

their resources would certainly seem near-infinite to us 0rganism Sep 2014 #7

You're assuming they behave like humans with regard to resources NickB79 Sep 2014 #12

The resource unique to Earth is humans and other organisms that have evolved here. cbdo2007 Sep 2014 #17

Isn't that the plot to "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"? Scootaloo Sep 2014 #26

" Coming to conquer us" < You are presuming they think like us. But maybe we are just food, and they jtuck004 Sep 2014 #28

We just recently discovered radio waves, our technology is mostly Silicon and Carbon based... 951-Riverside Sep 2014 #45

"Why on earth would a far more intelligent life bother visiting us primitives? " - Stock their zoo. jtuck004 Sep 2014 #52

You forgot about their need for profit to pay shareholders. TransitJohn Sep 2014 #47

I disagree, I think it's a completely sensible argument UtahJosh Sep 2014 #53

Imo BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #6

I tend to agree. stevenleser Sep 2014 #11

But isn't it the height of human hubris to expect ETs to behave like humans? eom. 1StrongBlackMan Sep 2014 #16

Yes IDemo Sep 2014 #37

That's just it, I don't think they would behave like us at all. We wouldn't be like that. stevenleser Sep 2014 #42

Yawn, another look-how-stupid-people-are thesis. Dreamer Tatum Sep 2014 #8

SF writer Robert Rankin was there long ago. hifiguy Sep 2014 #9

Hmm I don't think that I recognize that cover. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2014 #30

I would better believe RoccoR5955 Sep 2014 #10

and the Magratheans who were rebuilding the earth anyway ProdigalJunkMail Sep 2014 #15

Good thing I have my towel handy. n/t hughee99 Sep 2014 #19

And this may be the one true theory, perhaps Adams could communicate with A Simple Game Sep 2014 #27

There is no intelligent life in the universe Hari Seldon Sep 2014 #13

They'll just wait for us to destroy ourselves. GeorgeGist Sep 2014 #14

Why wait? Introducing a virus that kills humans but doesn't affect them should be sufficient hughee99 Sep 2014 #20

Hawking's perception of 'they' is very likely wrong IDemo Sep 2014 #18

Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos. hughee99 Sep 2014 #21

That's assuming faster than light travel is impossible.... Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2014 #25

If aliens can change their appearance the smart move is for the commander to look like Reagan,... Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2014 #22

The intelligence gap is the dumbest argument. joshcryer Sep 2014 #23

... PeoViejo Sep 2014 #24

We aren't worms. Mz Pip Sep 2014 #29

I would tend to believe they would limit contact with us in our current state. roamer65 Sep 2014 #38

I try not to step on worms. Or other bugs I can see. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2014 #31

. A-Schwarzenegger Sep 2014 #41

^This Shankapotomus Sep 2014 #49

Me too - LiberalElite Sep 2014 #71

Neil deGrasse Tyson is one awesome dude madokie Sep 2014 #32

will they be illegal aliens? jonjensen Sep 2014 #33

Aliens watching Earth dougg Sep 2014 #34

+1 freshwest Sep 2014 #60

As usual, we flatter ourselves RufusTFirefly Sep 2014 #35

I hope I get to meet at least one alien who looks like lovemydog Sep 2014 #36

I like a quote from Arthur C Clarke roamer65 Sep 2014 #39

Meh. Once you figure out how to create your own custom universe, you leave. hunter Sep 2014 #40

worth worrying about only if one thinks that travel at several hundred times the speed of light geek tragedy Sep 2014 #43

no need to travel at those speeds RoccoR5955 Sep 2014 #44

I am too...woa...when did that happen? Rex Sep 2014 #46

That's a lot of assumption for a scientist. kentauros Sep 2014 #50

I might add that Lem is *very* Continental (even if he inspired, what, half of Futurama?) MisterP Sep 2014 #59

I don't see what that has to do with anything. kentauros Sep 2014 #64

hmm, what I was thinking was that the willingness to acknowledge incomprehensible aliens MisterP Sep 2014 #73

We have no proof that aliens aren't already here. Kalidurga Sep 2014 #51

I've gotten into that line of thought lately, too. lovemydog Sep 2014 #58

I, for one, welcome... Alkene Sep 2014 #54

Surprising dumb, coming from Hawking. Every SF novel struggles to figure out, just WHAT Romulox Sep 2014 #55

What would a more advanced life form want with _our_ brains? (nt) Heidi Sep 2014 #56

Spare parts? lovemydog Sep 2014 #57

This Was Broached In "Contact" colsohlibgal Sep 2014 #61

There is a huge logic hole in his reasoning Hugabear Sep 2014 #62

I, for one, will welcome our alien overlords. zappaman Sep 2014 #63

Alien Agenda? ZX86 Sep 2014 #65

There's a good argument to make that there are damn few intelligent races in the universe... krispos42 Sep 2014 #66

Perhaps they just use ZX86 Sep 2014 #68

You'd need a culture to maintain this policy indefinitely. krispos42 Sep 2014 #69

I remember a great short story... MicaelS Sep 2014 #67

I actually try not to step on worms. nt LiberalElite Sep 2014 #70

me too. Quayblue Sep 2014 #72