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Do you believe in intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe?

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Do you believe in intelligent life elsewhere in the universe?

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Buckeyeskickbuttocks said:
Well, then, I'm curious... what is sufficient proof to believe? In terms of probability, it seems to me, the chances are very high life is elsewhere.. As Hawg said, there are litterally billions of galaxies composed of billions of stars where life could be. I realize that's not "proof" as it were, but we make choices based on probabilities all the time. So, I guess my question to you is, on what basis do you think that the universe is othewise empty of intelligent life? Do you believe God made it that way for you to marvel at? (I'm being serious, since you said you believe in God, I'd kinda like to know what his role is in all this universe we have out there)
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Actually, I would make the semantic distinction that not believing there is intelligent life out there, is not necessarily the same as thinking the universe is otherwise empty of intelligent life. I don't believe it, but it's not such an important belief that I close myself off to the possibility that life is out there.

And I suppose that yes, based my religious views, I believe that we are unique in the universe which was created for us by God.
 
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Buckeyeskickbuttocks said:
Fair enough. It's very difficult to prove anything, though. I couldn't prove to you that I am actually here at all, much less could I show you a subatomic particle.
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Well, if you and I sat down and had a beer I would believe you existed. I only have room for one imaginary friend and if you werent real then I would be over quota.:tongue2:

I understand exactly what you are saying about the proof. I can honestly see why people believe either way.
 
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Buckeyeskickbuttocks said:
Isn't it just as statistically probable that there isn't life out there? I mean, why is one (no life) the fallback position?
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First, even if there was a greater probability that life does exist out there than it doesn't, that probability is still not enough to convince me to believe.

Second, in statistics, the burden of proof lies on those who wish to reject the null hypothesis, which in this case would be there is no intelligent life other than what we know.
 
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buckeyegrad said:
First, even if there was a greater probability that life does exist out there than it doesn't, that probability is still not enough to convince me to believe.

Second, in statistics, the burden of proof lies on those who wish to reject the null hypothesis, which in this case would be there is no intelligent life other than what we know.
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Who sets the null? I realize, of course, that historically, man has believed we're alone.. but that's really quite arbitrary.

It's just as easy for me to say the null is that there is life out there, now prove otherwise. Now you've got the burden.

See what I'm saying?

.....

and I know thump wanted to avoid religion here, but... How can you believe in God if you believe in this Null burden?

Is it merely because man has historically believed God does exist? Again, it's an arbitrary distinction, in my mind.
 
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tyrus3 said:
Well, if you and I sat down and had a beer I would believe you existed. I only have room for one imaginary friend and if you werent real then I would be over quota.:tongue2:

I understand exactly what you are saying about the proof. I can honestly see why people believe either way.
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I would continue to not believe you existed unless and until you bought me a beer. No.. make that 10 beers. :biggrin:
 
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BayBuck said:
Actually, I would make the semantic distinction that not believing there is intelligent life out there, is not necessarily the same as thinking the universe is otherwise empty of intelligent life. I don't believe it, but it's not such an important belief that I close myself off to the possibility that life is out there.

And I suppose that yes, based my religious views, I believe that we are unique in the universe which was created for us by God.
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OK... That's your view and I can respect it.. but let me ask you a hypothetical...

Suppose one day there is difinitive proof of aliens.. say you physically see an alien craft land, and you physically see non-human life forms disembark. How shaken is your faith in God? More importantly, why would your religion and God hinge on there not being other intelligent life (or the "we are unique" idea)
 
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Buckeyeskickbuttocks said:
Who sets the null? I realize, of course, that historically, man has believed we're alone.. but that's really quite arbitrary.

It's just as easy for me to say the null is that there is life out there, now prove otherwise. Now you've got the burden.

See what I'm saying?

.....

and I know thump wanted to avoid religion here, but... How can you believe in God if you believe in this Null burden?

Is it merely because man has historically believed God does exist? Again, it's an arbitrary distinction, in my mind.
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We have had no known contact with intelligent life outside earth, so of course the null stance would be that it isn't there: the burden is on those who wish to prove that something we've never seen is actually out there.

As for God, that seems to be a different situation: if I felt my soul's salvation depended solely on believing in aliens, that's a leap of faith that would cost me nothing to take (see Pascal's wager).
 
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MililaniBuckeye said:
At the risk of pissing off a lot of folks (especially religious ones), those who actually believe that we're the only intelligent life in the universe are either extremely naive or ego-centric.
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Now I think your quotes will get some people riled up but you bring an opinion that I think needs explained. Why do you think it is such a given that there is intelligent life out there?
 
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BayBuck said:
We have had no known contact with intelligent life outside earth, so of course the null stance would be that it isn't there: the burden is on those who wish to prove that something we've never seen is actually out there.

As for God, that seems to be a different situation: if I felt my soul's salvation depended solely on believing in aliens, that's a leap of faith that would cost me nothing to take (see Pascal's wager).
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I completely disagree that a belief in aliens is substantively different than a belief in God...

Other than your faith, what known contact have we had with God? The burden is likewise on those who wish to prove God is out there - as something we've never seen actually being out there.

Ironically, on Aliens, man has been of the mind they aren't.. and on God, that he is... And I think it's arbitrary. I can easily concieve of people lng believing the opposite.

You do make a valid point on the Pascal's Wager. There is no particular consequence in failing to believe in Aliens.
 
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