> increasing our chances to pass the filter Why would this be the case? I think OC's point is that if the universe is teeming with non-interstellar life, then

> increasing our chances to pass the filter Why would this be the case? I think OC's point is that if the universe is teeming with non-interstellar life, then the great filter will be life's ability to spread beyond its host star, or something before that. But we already can assume that based on the lack of interstellar visitors. We'd need to discover evidence of extinct life and surmise their end to narrow down what the great filter might be and therefor have a better chance of surviving it.