ExtraterrestrialsE. Regis With current interest in extraterrestrials at a peak, this book is a collection of original and reprinted articles advancing the latest scientific ideas as to the possible existence and nature of extraterrestrial intelligent life. Usually this subject is treated only in popular media, such as science fiction novels, movies, and television. Recently, however, scientists and researchers have begun to consider in earnest whether extraterrestrials really exist, whether they have evolved from simpler forms of life, whether they have evolved intelligence, and if so whether their modes of understanding the world are comparable to and congruent with our own. The contributors to this volume cover these topics, and also consider how we might communicate with aliens, and whether we would be able to understand the alien messages we might receive. Finally the authors, who include distinguished scientists, speculate whether the aliens might have a moral code, and what might be our moral obligations in the event any extraterrestrials were ever discovered. |
Contents
Existence and nature of extraterrestrial intelligence | 19 |
Nicholas Rescher | 77 |
Extraterrestrial epistemology | 79 |
Where are they? | 129 |
Detectability and decipherability | 163 |
Michael Ruse | 190 |
Meaning and consequences of contact | 229 |
Common terms and phrases
alien civilization animals antenna argue argument arithmetic assume astronomical Astrophysical biological bits Callimahos Carl Sagan cognitive colonization complex concepts cosmic course creatures cryptanalyst culture detect Drake Drake equation earth environment evidence evolution evolutionary evolved example exist exploration extraterrestrial civilization extraterrestrial intelligence fact frequency galactic Galaxy haystack human humanoid idea inhabited intelligent species interest interstellar communication issue kind language large number Lincos Lincos words mathematical matter means million moral natural selection needle Neumann machine non-randomness NRAO objects Observatory organisms origin ourselves perhaps philosophical physical planet planetary population possible principle probability problem question radio radioastronomy reason receiver rocket Sagan scientific sense SETI signals Society Sociobiology solar system sort space stars stellar system suppose Tarter telescope terrestrial theory things Tipler universal constructor University Press von Neumann machine von Neumann probes York