mtw writes:
It is very unlikely that there are conscious beings like us, unless they took the same evolutionary path that we did. What are the chances of that?
I'd say somewhere in the vicinity of 100%.
If there are other conscious beings, they are a great deal like us. The other conscious beings on this planet clearly are.
Many traits are arrived at by convergent evolutionary paths because they are invaluable to the organism. I can't think of a better candidate for convergence than consciousness. Many fictional or theoretical treatments of alien consciousness involve conceits of incomprehensibility, but in fact this universe is THE shared environment, and the notion of our uniqueness more arrogance than conceit. The spectra available to our senses and sensors, and the laws that determine cause and effect, would be the same. We would understand the Alpha Centaurians just fine, I think.
MTW writes:
We are the only one being KNOWN to contemplate the universe, unless you are suggesting that animals have telescopes and they just haven't shown them to us.
Do you think we only began to contemplate the universe with the invention of telescopes?
When thunderstorms fork lightning over the savannah, chimps gather on hilltops, sit quietly together, and watch the light show.
One turns to the other and says, "Wow." The other answers, "Yeah."
Isn't that what we do?
Drinking when we are not thirsty and making love at any time, madam, is all that distinguishes us from the other animals.
-Pierre De Beaumarchais (1732-1799)
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