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>> A Von Neumann probe ... might have no trace of evolution to it. Except that the very fact that it exists represents many evolved traits. If they are sendin

>> A Von Neumann probe ... might have no trace of evolution to it. Except that the very fact that it exists represents many evolved traits. If they are sending probes then their are either curious or expansionist, both evolved traits tied to competition for resources and/or survival. A species totally devoid of any history of evolutionary pressures wouldn't act that way, which is one of many possible great filters: once we have access to the infinite resources of space, perhaps we just stop caring and don't bother expanding. Such logic allows us to learn much simply from the existence of an otherwise silent Von Neumann probe.

XorNot 5y ago
Well also, a Von Neumann probe is a type of life. It's very unlikely that a self-replicating machine would not develop it's own technological drift in the replication protocol.
sigg3 5y ago
In all likelihood, yes. But when dealing with infinity, we must appreciate the likelihood of the unlikely too. Personally, I favor the prospect of the insanely lucky idiot race, that clumsily and completely by chance manage to launch a probe so seemingly sophisticated that every sentient race that discovers it readily submit to its perceived superiority.
- sandworm101 5y ago
  There are no real infinities. The universe might be infinite, but the bit of it we can see and/or ever interact with is not (speed of light + expansion). So there are a finite number of stars that we will ever be able to touch before the universe goes dark. And the universe seems to have had a finite starting point. So we can calculate which stars may ever reach out to us. These are very big numbers, but they are not infinite. Unless star trek is real. Faster than light travel opens up the door to infinities.
  - ajcp 5y ago
    Even with FTL travel the heat death of the universe still closes the door on an "infinity" as far as things within it existing goes.
    - mLuby 5y ago
      Some forms of FTL travel also opens the door to time travel, so even if there is no multiverse and our universe has a point in its future where all energy is at its lowest possible state, we could still bounce around between the Big Bang and the heat death for quite a while.

XorNot 5y ago

Well also, a Von Neumann probe is a type of life. It's very unlikely that a self-replicating machine would not develop it's own technological drift in the replication protocol.

sigg3 5y ago

In all likelihood, yes. But when dealing with infinity, we must appreciate the likelihood of the unlikely too. Personally, I favor the prospect of the insanely lucky idiot race, that clumsily and completely by chance manage to launch a probe so seemingly sophisticated that every sentient race that discovers it readily submit to its perceived superiority.

sandworm101 5y ago
There are no real infinities. The universe might be infinite, but the bit of it we can see and/or ever interact with is not (speed of light + expansion). So there are a finite number of stars that we will ever be able to touch before the universe goes dark. And the universe seems to have had a finite starting point. So we can calculate which stars may ever reach out to us. These are very big numbers, but they are not infinite. Unless star trek is real. Faster than light travel opens up the door to infinities.
- ajcp 5y ago
  Even with FTL travel the heat death of the universe still closes the door on an "infinity" as far as things within it existing goes.
  - mLuby 5y ago
    Some forms of FTL travel also opens the door to time travel, so even if there is no multiverse and our universe has a point in its future where all energy is at its lowest possible state, we could still bounce around between the Big Bang and the heat death for quite a while.