4 ms·
RIP. Some may see the Drake Equation as reductive, and that's kind of the point. Its simplicity makes it compelling: presenting the enormousness and diversity
by devindotcom 4y ago
RIP.
Some may see the Drake Equation as reductive, and that's kind of the point. Its simplicity makes it compelling: presenting the enormousness and diversity of the universe as a near infinitude that seems incapable of supporting only one planet full of life. It's also easily understood by anybody who can do basic math, with a 30-second explanation. You can make anyone think and make an informed guess on one of the most profound questions of all.
Here's hoping we prove his intuition right one day, I'm glad he lived to see so many advances in astronomy and physics, it must surely have felt like an unfolding of possibility to him.
- drewcoo 4y agoI think the criticisms aren't that the Drake equation is reductive, so much as that it's packed with unspoken assumptions and that it's not actually helpful. https://futuristspeaker.com/futurist-thomas-frey-insights/are-we-alone-the-fallacies-and-misguided-thinking-behind-the-drake-equation/ https://futuristspeaker.com/futurist-thomas-frey-insights/ar... And for inspiration to search for extraterrestrial life? I think Star Trek has done that job better. https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/news/1385/to-boldly-go-how-star-trek-inspired-nasas-planet-hunters/ https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/news/1385/to-boldly-go-how-star-... Failure is useful if we can learn from it. If we keep treating the Drake equation as meaningful, we're not learning.