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> e.g. did the evolution of homo sapiens and its subsequent monopolization of earth resources decrease the chances of another intelligent species evolving? Prob
by i386 5y ago
> e.g. did the evolution of homo sapiens and its subsequent monopolization of earth resources decrease the chances of another intelligent species evolving? Probably.
Only if you assume that intelligent life fills an ecological niche. As far as I am aware that’s some hot debate in evolutionary biologist circles.
There’s a strong chance this is all a massive fluke, given the configuration of our solar system and happenstance of earths position and chemical makeup.
Then again we wouldn’t be around to observe what we see today if it wasn’t for all those things aligning.
As observations of extra solar systems increase, I’m more inclined to think life is rarer and intelligence is exceedingly more rare.
Nothing wrong with an empty universe. Less to contend with.
- me_me_me 5y agoIf you start looking into definition of life itself you end-up deep into philosophical weeds, and start debating life like crystals, that dont feel alive but act as if they are biological organisms[0]. Heck even closer, is virus alive or its just a random runaway mutation of organic code? I don't think life is rare, but self aware intelligence probably is exceedingly rare, given how expensive it is in terms of energy cost, and the balance of disadvantageous environment needed for it to emerge and survive but not enough to destroy it. There are organisms that haven't evolved intelligence for millions of years because they are good enough to survive and not to mention the self awareness. [0] https://www.wired.com/2013/01/living-crystal/ https://www.wired.com/2013/01/living-crystal/