4 ms·
I think the point is that we know the numerator today is one, and no matter how much you cut down the denominator, increasing the numerator to two would be a hu
by eep_social 2y ago
I think the point is that we know the numerator today is one, and no matter how much you cut down the denominator, increasing the numerator to two would be a huge deal. Conversely, given that we think the denominator approaches a small infinity, it seems implausible that the numerator is actually one.
- jvanderbot 2y agoWell that's not my point. Right now the denominator is about 10 trillion. A single 1/10 factor makes it 1 trillion. 10-ish more factors and we're down to a small number of planets before we even consider the emergence of life and likelihood of propagation. There are likely many more 1/10 factors: Habitable zone, diurnal cycles, billions of years of geological peace, sufficient water, a stable moon (maybe only one), a particular spectra of the star ... all those were "well they seem to happen to 1/10 or 1/100 planets" individually. They cut down the space quickly when combined.
- irrational 2y agoBut, the 2 may be on the other side of the universe, or even past the cosmological horizon. And since FTL speed travel is almost certainly impossible, it may very well always be 1 to the best of our knowledge.
- eep_social 2y agoThat’s what makes this discussion so fun ;)