4 ms·

If there is any life - even just "little" single-cell microbial type life - that is a huge huge huge change for human society. We'd have actual proof that we a

If there is any life - even just "little" single-cell microbial type life - that is a huge huge huge change for human society. We'd have actual proof that we are not the only life in the universe (even if just on Mars it may be microbial-like). Actual proof that we are not special or unique. I view it as like when a small baby/toddler realises that other people exist and that they are not the sole focus of the world's attention - a major development milestone.

thordenmark 3y ago
It will then have to be proved it isn't life from Earth that got there somehow, to really be that huge change for society.
- Narishma 3y ago
  Or the other way around.
echelon 3y ago
That barely scratches the surface of how much society and life on earth will change. Religion, life's meaning, our place in the universe -- everyone will face an immediate reckoning here and have to reconcile their previous notions. But even more impactful is that we'll start to be able to make much better approximations of Fermi's Paradox. It might suggest that the universe is teeming with life. Then questions about how it evolves and reaches sentience will move to the forefront. We'll have much better ideas. We might start to get a little anxious about what's lurking out there, and we will probably start spending massively on space telescopes. Society will start looking up.
- antihipocrat 3y ago
  A lot of people believe that life isn't unique to earth in the universe and I personally wouldn't face a reckoning by this being confirmed.. I would however face a reckoning if it were somehow proven that earth was unique.
  - echelon 3y ago
    > A lot of people believe that life isn't unique to earth in the universe and I personally wouldn't face a reckoning by this being confirmed I think there is life outside this planet, but we do not know for sure. If we don't find life in this solar system, we quite possibly might never. You probably won't live to see this being confirmed. For these reasons, if we find life, it'll change everything.

thordenmark 3y ago

It will then have to be proved it isn't life from Earth that got there somehow, to really be that huge change for society.

Narishma 3y ago
Or the other way around.

echelon 3y ago

That barely scratches the surface of how much society and life on earth will change. Religion, life's meaning, our place in the universe -- everyone will face an immediate reckoning here and have to reconcile their previous notions. But even more impactful is that we'll start to be able to make much better approximations of Fermi's Paradox. It might suggest that the universe is teeming with life. Then questions about how it evolves and reaches sentience will move to the forefront. We'll have much better ideas. We might start to get a little anxious about what's lurking out there, and we will probably start spending massively on space telescopes. Society will start looking up.

antihipocrat 3y ago
A lot of people believe that life isn't unique to earth in the universe and I personally wouldn't face a reckoning by this being confirmed.. I would however face a reckoning if it were somehow proven that earth was unique.
- echelon 3y ago
  > A lot of people believe that life isn't unique to earth in the universe and I personally wouldn't face a reckoning by this being confirmed I think there is life outside this planet, but we do not know for sure. If we don't find life in this solar system, we quite possibly might never. You probably won't live to see this being confirmed. For these reasons, if we find life, it'll change everything.