How likely are we to find extraterrestrial life?

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How likely are we to find extraterrestrial life?

Post #1

Post by otseng »

Many NASA scientists think we're on the verge of finding alien life.

Ellen Stofan, NASA's former chief scientist, said in 2015 that she believes we'll get "strong indications of life beyond Earth in the next decade and definitive evidence in the next 10 to 20 years."

Many astrophysicists and astronomers are convinced that it's not a matter of if we'll find life — it's when.
https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-pl ... de-2019-11

Questions for debate:
- How likely are we to find extraterrestrial life?
- What empirical evidence is there that any extraterrestrial life exists?
- What are the implications if extraterrestrial life exists or do not exist?

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Post #31

Post by William »

[center]UFOs could be time-travelling humans from the future - professor[/center]

Link:
  • "UFO skeptics say they can't be alien ships because the vast distances of space are just too much.

    But a university professor in the US thinks he's solved that problem - they're not from other planets at all. They're piloted by humans, but from the future. "
William: It is not such a new idea as the professor is making out it is, as such theory of future 'selves' has been in circulation for many years.

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Post #32

Post by William »

[Replying to post 29 by ]

Clownboat: We know how planets form.

For what reason would we even consider planets being alive? There must be some observation that you can share with us that would suggest such a thing? What would be the (suggested?) mechanism that makes planets alive?

Or is the statement that planets may be alive as valid as claiming that they were once made of jello?
I ask because I'm aware of no observation that would even make me consider either scenario. Perhaps I have missed it?


William: It is easy to miss as it is not easy to detect.
When one thinks of AI - computers and such other tech, one understands how brains don't necessarily have to be organic in order to function as devices which Consciousness can utilize.

Our own planet has all the elements of such a brain.

The key aspect of not missing 'it', is in understanding that 'life' is not just something we identify as 'living' as we are accustomed to understand 'life' in terms of biological forms. It is not the forms which are having the experience. It is the consciousness within the forms which is the truly living aspect of the forms.

How to connect with a living entity such as the Earth? Understanding that all consciousness is connected, is a great platform from which to get it, rather than to continue to miss it.

Believing it is impossible, or delusions of the brain, or figments of the imagination et al, won't get one off first base.

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Post #33

Post by Clownboat »

William wrote: [Replying to post 29 by ]

Clownboat: We know how planets form.

For what reason would we even consider planets being alive? There must be some observation that you can share with us that would suggest such a thing? What would be the (suggested?) mechanism that makes planets alive?

Or is the statement that planets may be alive as valid as claiming that they were once made of jello?
I ask because I'm aware of no observation that would even make me consider either scenario. Perhaps I have missed it?


William: It is easy to miss as it is not easy to detect.
When one thinks of AI - computers and such other tech, one understands how brains don't necessarily have to be organic in order to function as devices which Consciousness can utilize.

Our own planet has all the elements of such a brain.

The key aspect of not missing 'it', is in understanding that 'life' is not just something we identify as 'living' as we are accustomed to understand 'life' in terms of biological forms. It is not the forms which are having the experience. It is the consciousness within the forms which is the truly living aspect of the forms.

How to connect with a living entity such as the Earth? Understanding that all consciousness is connected, is a great platform from which to get it, rather than to continue to miss it.

Believing it is impossible, or delusions of the brain, or figments of the imagination et al, won't get one off first base.
That was a lot of words to avoid saying:
"I'm not aware of a mechanism for planets to become alive"

I'm also not aware of one.

You said: "Understanding that all consciousness is connected"
I don't believe that you know this to be an understanding. Some people want there to be gods, others some eternal consciousness. I'm open to looking at evidence for either, but continually notice humans making declarations on behalf of both. Human declarations mean little.
You can give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day, or you can teach a man to pray for fish and he will starve to death.

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Post #34

Post by Diagoras »

William wrote:How to connect with a living entity such as the Earth? Understanding that all consciousness is connected, is a great platform from which to get it, rather than to continue to miss it.
A ‘living earth’ is certainly a popular theory, and has plenty of support amongst the scientific community. However, as this article explains, there’s a huge and important difference between an earth that’s defined as ‘alive’ and one that’s defined as ‘conscious’.

If we’re eventually able to observe an ‘exobiosphere’ then we’ll have found extraterrestrial life.

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Post #35

Post by William »

[Replying to post 34]

William: Yes. Definitions go a long way in deciding how to best proceed with ones choices. Some lean toward what priests tell them, others to what scientist tell them. I tend toward leaning to what my own experience tells me.

In that, I see no reason why the planet itself cannot be the form of a conscious living entity, although I understand perfectly that many have trouble with such a concept, and even get upset about the possibility.

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Post #36

Post by William »

[Replying to post 33]

Clownboat: That was a lot of words to avoid saying:
"I'm not aware of a mechanism for planets to become alive"


William: I understand your fear at the idea being actually true.

I think the mechanism is often confused with life itself, as I noted in previous post. Life is consciousness, not the mechanism consciousness uses to experience the mechanism.


Clownboat: I'm open to looking at evidence for either, but continually notice humans making declarations on behalf of both. Human declarations mean little.

William: I am open to the evidence which is why I see it within the Creation.
Some human declarations even go so far as to say that humans are the only beings on the planet who are truly conscious.
I myself disagree.

Whatever human declarations mean to you or I, or the ripple effects that might come from these, - big or little - is for each of us to determine based upon our own experience and consequent choice of reaction.

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Post #37

Post by Clownboat »

Clownboat: That was a lot of words to avoid saying:
"I'm not aware of a mechanism for planets to become alive"
William: I understand your fear at the idea being actually true.

I don't have this fear. Please describe your fear that you are projecting on to me so I may better understand your fear.

If you are saying I have this fear in order for your claim to make sense, then we can dispense with the dishonesty. Fear is in the mind and you cannot make me feel fear, only I can do that (IMO).

I think the mechanism is often confused with life itself, as I noted in previous post.

No need to tell us your thoughts. I was only asking if you could point to a mechanism. The answer is 'no'. That is OK.

Clownboat: I'm open to looking at evidence for either, but continually notice humans making declarations on behalf of both. Human declarations mean little.
William: I am open to the evidence which is why I see it within the Creation.
Some human declarations even go so far as to say that humans are the only beings on the planet who are truly conscious.
I myself disagree.

I don't care, sorry.
I only care to compare claimed mechanisms. You cannot provide one to compare to another.

No need for story time.

Whatever human declarations mean to you or I, or the ripple effects that might come from these, - big or little - is for each of us to determine based upon our own experience and consequent choice of reaction.

This kind of story time is not good for debate.

My question was simple and it was about a mechanism to make planets alive. I'm not aware of a possible one and neither are you (which doesn't make your hope about planets being alive false of course). It just means there is little to actually discuss.
You can give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day, or you can teach a man to pray for fish and he will starve to death.

I blame man for codifying those rules into a book which allowed superstitious people to perpetuate a barbaric practice. Rules that must be followed or face an invisible beings wrath. - KenRU

It is sad that in an age of freedom some people are enslaved by the nomads of old. - Marco

If you are unable to demonstrate that what you believe is true and you absolve yourself of the burden of proof, then what is the purpose of your arguments? - brunumb

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Post #38

Post by William »

[Replying to post 37]

Clownboat: I don't have this fear. Please describe your fear that you are projecting on to me so I may better understand your fear.

William: I don't care what it is that makes you express yourself as you do.
It was a simple human declaration, much as was your statement;
  • That was a lot of words to avoid saying:
    "I'm not aware of a mechanism for planets to become alive"


Clownboat: Fear is in the mind and you cannot make me feel fear, only I can do that (IMO)

William: I agree. Your opinion is as everyone else's. A 'human declaration.'

Clownboat: I only care to compare claimed mechanisms. You cannot provide one to compare to another.

William: I did provide one. I don't care that you missed it, or that fear might not be the cause of you missing it.
  • Whatever human declarations mean to you or I, or the ripple effects that might come from these, - big or little - is for each of us to determine based upon our own experience and consequent choice of reaction.


Clownboat: My question was simple and it was about a mechanism to make planets alive.

William: I was responding to your statements. I was not aware they were 'questions'.

As explained by the links and the OP subject matter, and in my reply to Diagoras

Definitions go a long way in deciding how to best proceed with ones choices. Some lean toward what priests tell them, others to what scientist tell them. I tend toward leaning to what my own experience tells me.

  • In that, I see no reason why the planet itself cannot be the form of a conscious living entity, although I understand perfectly that many have trouble with such a concept, and even get upset about the possibility.


Your own definition of living is likely different from my own. Therein, there is little to discuss.

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Post #39

Post by Clownboat »

William wrote: [Replying to post 37]

Clownboat: I don't have this fear. Please describe your fear that you are projecting on to me so I may better understand your fear.

William: I don't care what it is that makes you express yourself as you do.
It was a simple human declaration, much as was your statement;
  • That was a lot of words to avoid saying:
    "I'm not aware of a mechanism for planets to become alive"


Clownboat: Fear is in the mind and you cannot make me feel fear, only I can do that (IMO)

William: I agree. Your opinion is as everyone else's. A 'human declaration.'

Clownboat: I only care to compare claimed mechanisms. You cannot provide one to compare to another.

William: I did provide one. I don't care that you missed it, or that fear might not be the cause of you missing it.
  • Whatever human declarations mean to you or I, or the ripple effects that might come from these, - big or little - is for each of us to determine based upon our own experience and consequent choice of reaction.


Clownboat: My question was simple and it was about a mechanism to make planets alive.

William: I was responding to your statements. I was not aware they were 'questions'.

As explained by the links and the OP subject matter, and in my reply to Diagoras

Definitions go a long way in deciding how to best proceed with ones choices. Some lean toward what priests tell them, others to what scientist tell them. I tend toward leaning to what my own experience tells me.

  • In that, I see no reason why the planet itself cannot be the form of a conscious living entity, although I understand perfectly that many have trouble with such a concept, and even get upset about the possibility.


Your own definition of living is likely different from my own. Therein, there is little to discuss.
This is not a mechanism:
Cut/Pasted - "Whatever human declarations mean to you or I, or the ripple effects that might come from these, - big or little - is for each of us to determine based upon our own experience and consequent choice of reaction."

mech·an·ism
/ˈmekəˌnizəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a system of parts working together in a machine; a piece of machinery.
2.
a natural or established process by which something takes place or is brought about.

I asked if you could provide such a mechanism.
Clearly the answer to this question is "no". I didn't expect that you could, but if you could, I would have liked to understand it.

All this wasted time just to avoid the honest answer.
It's ok that you cannot provide a mechanism. For all we know, the planet is alive and we just don't know how that happened.

Keeping your emotions out of the discussion helps and not being able to provide a mechanism does not prove something to be false. Obviously providing a possible mechanism helps to bolster a claim/thought though.
You can give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day, or you can teach a man to pray for fish and he will starve to death.

I blame man for codifying those rules into a book which allowed superstitious people to perpetuate a barbaric practice. Rules that must be followed or face an invisible beings wrath. - KenRU

It is sad that in an age of freedom some people are enslaved by the nomads of old. - Marco

If you are unable to demonstrate that what you believe is true and you absolve yourself of the burden of proof, then what is the purpose of your arguments? - brunumb

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Post #40

Post by William »

[Replying to post 39]


William: "Whatever human declarations mean to you or I, or the ripple effects that might come from these, - big or little - is for each of us to determine based upon our own experience and consequent choice of reaction."

Clownboat: This is not a mechanism

William: I agree. What gave you the impression I was calling that a mechanism? Clearly I was referring to that as a consequence.

Clownboat: mech·an·ism
/ˈmekəˌnizəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a system of parts working together in a machine; a piece of machinery.
2.
a natural or established process by which something takes place or is brought about.


William: I agree.

Clownboat: I asked if you could provide such a mechanism.

William: As I wrote in a previous post;
  • When one thinks of AI - computers and such other tech, one understands how brains don't necessarily have to be organic in order to function as devices which Consciousness can utilize.

    Our own planet has all the elements of such a brain.
Ideally if you want to discuss/debate, you need to read what others write. Clearly you missed my reference to the mechanism in your clamber to misinterpret me with your returning comment;
  • That was a lot of words to avoid saying:
    "I'm not aware of a mechanism for planets to become alive"


Perhaps you should try again, with some decorum, and address what I actually wrote rather than the strawman you created.

The mechanism I was describing was the form - the planet itself.

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