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The more I learn about Neanderthals, the more I suspect they were very, very similar to us in many ways. In the same way that looking out into the universe make

The more I learn about Neanderthals, the more I suspect they were very, very similar to us in many ways. In the same way that looking out into the universe makes me feel very small, the notion of history spanning back incomprehensibly with all of these lives of other people, even outside of my own species, is so humbling. One thing I'm curious about is how the pottery connects to the bones. Is this evidence that they made pottery, or did the pottery get deposited later? I thought ceramics weren't around until ~20k years ago, but I'm not super current on this stuff. If it dates back 50k years and neanderthals made it, isn't that a huge deal?

trumbitta2 3y ago
But they are. What I've always known (but I can't remember where I got it from) is that they never vanished/extinguished. They just merged with Home Sapiens.
pests 3y ago
I find it insanely crazy that a mere 50k years ago we shared the planet with another human species. Then only a little further back there were potentially multiple. Amazing video I watched yesterday. "When We Met Other Human Species" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdYwMLSNHnU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdYwMLSNHnU
- bluedevil2k 3y ago
  > with another human species With several! Neanderthals, Denisovans, Floriensis, and a species recently found in the Philippines.
fsckboy 3y ago
> In the same way that looking out into the universe makes me feel very small it's my personal project to get people to stop thinking and feeling this: we are not insignificant specks, we are close to all there is. Till we humans discover any alien intelligence out there (and we've tried), we (and our creations if you want to include AIs) are the most complex and interesting things that we know of. When you look out at the universe you should see a whole lot of nothing: what is the sun but a giant agglomeration of a few processes (a few different fusions, radiation and absorption) and what are the other stars but more of the same, with a deep gravity well here and there. Rather, it's us who is something, it's us who even created the concept of something, and the concept of significance. We assign those values. Without us, the universe might just be dead. > In the same way that looking out into the universe makes me feel very large indeed, the notion of history spanning back such a short time to encompass all of us and our thinking, the only thinking we know of, gives us a great connection to these lives of other people, even outside of our own species, and should fill us with pride, the only pride there is in the universe afaik. Sagan, Harari, Hossenfelder, and Feynmann to name a few, are always selling us ideas like "math and science make nature more beautiful". No, humans make nature, and math and science, beautiful. Everywhere in the universe they say, "you want to make an apple pie from scratch? First you must ask a human."
- HankB99 3y ago
  > ... we (and our creations if you want to include AIs) are the most complex and interesting things that we know of. One viewpoint, I suppose. I think the cosmos and all of the things that compose it (including us) is the most complex and interesting thing that we (partially) know. And there is much yet to learn.
- dotancohen 3y ago
  Every single stellar system that we've explored has been found to have intelligent life. Now with a sample size of one you could argue that I'm being optimistically misleading - and you would be correct. But likewise I respect but respectfully disagree with the notion that we are likely the only intelligent life in the universe. We might never communicate with an extra-solar being, simply due to the sheer size of the universe. But it is extraordinarily pompous to think that we are unique, special, or even alone.
  - fsckboy 3y ago
    you're focusing on the wrong aspect. We remain the most complex things we know of, the only things we know of complex enough to engage in all that goes into this discussion, including the discussion. If we found other intelligent life, it would only diminish us if that life were formed like the most erotic of sci-fi fantasies, those species that have evolved past corporeal form, an erotic fantasy I should mention, that we came up with
  - qup 3y ago
    If I'm not special, I can't wait for an alien to come tell me about it. Just squash me and my insignificant plans. But until then, I'm with the other guy. We're it, buddy. It's hubris, and some find that particularly ugly. But it's got a foundation.
- steve_adams_86 3y ago
  I agree partially, but I think it’s possible to hold opposing ideas here. Both perspectives are incredible and valid in their own ways. I’m very small, yet I’m the epitome of intelligent life as we know it. Perhaps it’s important to explore both ends of that spectrum.

trumbitta2 3y ago

But they are. What I've always known (but I can't remember where I got it from) is that they never vanished/extinguished. They just merged with Home Sapiens.

pests 3y ago

I find it insanely crazy that a mere 50k years ago we shared the planet with another human species. Then only a little further back there were potentially multiple. Amazing video I watched yesterday. "When We Met Other Human Species" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdYwMLSNHnU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdYwMLSNHnU

bluedevil2k 3y ago
> with another human species With several! Neanderthals, Denisovans, Floriensis, and a species recently found in the Philippines.

fsckboy 3y ago

> In the same way that looking out into the universe makes me feel very small it's my personal project to get people to stop thinking and feeling this: we are not insignificant specks, we are close to all there is. Till we humans discover any alien intelligence out there (and we've tried), we (and our creations if you want to include AIs) are the most complex and interesting things that we know of. When you look out at the universe you should see a whole lot of nothing: what is the sun but a giant agglomeration of a few processes (a few different fusions, radiation and absorption) and what are the other stars but more of the same, with a deep gravity well here and there. Rather, it's us who is something, it's us who even created the concept of something, and the concept of significance. We assign those values. Without us, the universe might just be dead. > In the same way that looking out into the universe makes me feel very large indeed, the notion of history spanning back such a short time to encompass all of us and our thinking, the only thinking we know of, gives us a great connection to these lives of other people, even outside of our own species, and should fill us with pride, the only pride there is in the universe afaik. Sagan, Harari, Hossenfelder, and Feynmann to name a few, are always selling us ideas like "math and science make nature more beautiful". No, humans make nature, and math and science, beautiful. Everywhere in the universe they say, "you want to make an apple pie from scratch? First you must ask a human."

HankB99 3y ago
> ... we (and our creations if you want to include AIs) are the most complex and interesting things that we know of. One viewpoint, I suppose. I think the cosmos and all of the things that compose it (including us) is the most complex and interesting thing that we (partially) know. And there is much yet to learn.
dotancohen 3y ago
Every single stellar system that we've explored has been found to have intelligent life. Now with a sample size of one you could argue that I'm being optimistically misleading - and you would be correct. But likewise I respect but respectfully disagree with the notion that we are likely the only intelligent life in the universe. We might never communicate with an extra-solar being, simply due to the sheer size of the universe. But it is extraordinarily pompous to think that we are unique, special, or even alone.
- fsckboy 3y ago
  you're focusing on the wrong aspect. We remain the most complex things we know of, the only things we know of complex enough to engage in all that goes into this discussion, including the discussion. If we found other intelligent life, it would only diminish us if that life were formed like the most erotic of sci-fi fantasies, those species that have evolved past corporeal form, an erotic fantasy I should mention, that we came up with
- qup 3y ago
  If I'm not special, I can't wait for an alien to come tell me about it. Just squash me and my insignificant plans. But until then, I'm with the other guy. We're it, buddy. It's hubris, and some find that particularly ugly. But it's got a foundation.
steve_adams_86 3y ago
I agree partially, but I think it’s possible to hold opposing ideas here. Both perspectives are incredible and valid in their own ways. I’m very small, yet I’m the epitome of intelligent life as we know it. Perhaps it’s important to explore both ends of that spectrum.