I always feel that when we truly understand alien intelligence, we will find it here on Earth. We're genetically cousins with the Great Apes, and we're still unable to recognize they are sentient... How are we supposed to apprehend sapient beings who evolved through millions of years in an absolutely alien environment?
Another example is ant supercolonies. For all intents and purposes, this is an intelligent eusocial organism, yet we're so, so far removed from even being able to communicate with them, and that's with having them right here under our nose. Ant colonies learn and adapt through a form of trial and error that is incompatible with the scientific method, in the sense that it doesn't require hypothesis or understanding of the test. It works by virtue of being successful.
I think that the day we can discuss with an ant supercolony, we'll be ready to tackle the alien intelligence problem. Because I guarantee you, they won't look like us with pointy ears.
I always feel that when we truly understand alien intelligence, we will find it here on Earth. We're genetically cousins with the Great Apes, and we're still unable to recognize they are sentient... How are we supposed to apprehend sapient beings who evolved through millions of years in an absolutely alien environment?
Another example is ant supercolonies. For all intents and purposes, this is an intelligent eusocial organism, yet we're so, so far removed from even being able to communicate with them, and that's with having them right here under our nose. Ant colonies learn and adapt through a form of trial and error that is incompatible with the scientific method, in the sense that it doesn't require hypothesis or understanding of the test. It works by virtue of being successful.
I think that the day we can discuss with an ant supercolony, we'll be ready to tackle the alien intelligence problem. Because I guarantee you, they won't look like us with pointy ears.