This is, at the very least, an interesting though experiment. We often suppose: (we can't find intelligent extraterrestrials)⊃(there is a great filter ahead

This is, at the very least, an interesting though experiment. We often suppose: (we can't find intelligent extraterrestrials)⊃(there is a great filter ahead of us) But what if: (we have passed a great filter)⊃(there aren't many intelligent extraterrestrials) That doesn't mean there aren't other filters in our future. But it could help explain the Fermi Paradox. It also fits with the apparent dearth of marginally-intelligent and marginally-unintelligent species here on Earth with us.