Are we lost in space? Are we alone in the Universe? Is there intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe (by intelligent life, I mean conscious individuals that both think and feel as we do)? I for one believe it is supported as a statistical likelihood that there is such life out there. However, the likelihood we can communicate with others in the vastness of space seems unlikely in our life times. [See website of Dr. Stephen Hawkings: http://www.hawking.org.uk/; Dr. Hawkings a deep thinker to say the least has some interesting views on life in the universe; at his website see specifically his presentation on "Life in the Universe."]
Personally, I can not envision intelligent life lacking consciousness of a "self" and capacity not only to think, but to feel. However, that just starts the trouble. What if this intelligent life is self-centered and self-destructive. Cynically, all things being possible, let's say there is intelligent life but it's more bent on destruction than we humans of the planet Earth?
I'm thinking of the automobile manufacturers who destroyed electric cars which had been leased out in California in time to make a deadline. Turns out the battery providing greater distance driving had been bought up by an oil company! The cars were shredded over the protest of leaseholders who wanted to buy the cars and keep them running. See reviews of Who Killed the Electric Car at various websites.
Dr. Hawkings according to recent news stories is actually advising humans to avoid contact with aliens on the theory that such aliens as would have the capacity to contact humans would be far advanced and like humans self-dealing. Fear is the underlying emotion which frustrates all advances in knowledge and invention. On the one side fear of splitting the atom was well based and like all advances brings on both good and evil consequence. Politically we have to deal with continuing with any technology which puts our planet Earth at risk as recent events demonstrate (British Petroleum failure to cap its well pollutes the Gulf of Mexico and great ecological degradation. (RJH 5/20/2010)
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