(09-13-2021, 02:32 PM)Dānu Wrote:(09-13-2021, 01:20 PM)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: His point that aliens would almost certainly look completely different is still apt.
Presumably. But there's also the possibility that evolution on another planet would converge on similar solutions.
I agree. In order to take advantage of higher intelligence, organisms would need to have better mobility and dexterity than other organisms. Moving around and being able to manipulate the environment by creating and building structures seems to me to have been achieved efficiently with the two-armed, bipedal structure of the apes. Any more limbs or appendages would probably not be as energy efficient and therefore not favoured by evolution.
The atmosphere was mentioned in this discussion. We have evolved in an atmosphere that supplies essential oxygen for respiration. Had the atmosphere contained less, then our lungs may have evolved differently to cope. They struggle now as evidenced by people moving to higher altitudes where the atmosphere is thinner. On the other hand, more oxygen in the atmosphere would be detrimental to life. Oxygen supports combustion, so an atmosphere richer in oxygen would cause events like bushfires to be even more devastating than they are even now. Such an environment may not even allow anything but basic organisms to survive and thrive.
There are so many environmental factors that are involved in directing the path of evolution that speculating on what life-forms may have arisen out there should not lead to the assumption that there should be things 'like' us. Even if they are out there, I reckon the chance that they are within cooee of us and also have the appropriate technoolgy to find us is exceedingly small.
No gods necessary
