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The most boring thing about these speculations about beings from other planets is the absolute lack of imagination. Most times people imagine something like a v
by diego_moita 16y ago
The most boring thing about these speculations about beings from other planets is the absolute lack of imagination. Most times people imagine something like a vertebrate with human-like appearance.
Why assume that the evolution of any form of life in a different environment would repeat so closely the evolution of life on earth? It could and should be completely different. In Cosmos, Carl Sagan speculated about life in other planets based in nitrogen and sulfur, with huge bubbles gathering nutrients and other smaller ones preying on them. Now this is what I call imagination.
- equark 16y agoTrue but there are actually pretty good reasons to think some traits will be universal. How many different ways to swim are there really, beyond what we see on earth. Hawking talks about this point. Eyes are another example of a hugely useful trait that may be universal.
- cruiser 16y agoI agree. Whenever I witness such an utter lack of imagination, I console myself by thinking that line from Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide that has the phrase "super-intelligent shades of blue". Just imagine colors being intelligent! That's the best alien life-form I've heard of.