I agree, but in any case it makes no sense to keep civilization on just one planet, because doing so hurts the planet, hurts the people, and prevents all the amazing things we could be doing if we weren't so-limited. /1
amp.businessinsider.com/fermi-paradox-…
amp.businessinsider.com/fermi-paradox-…
2/ I mean, the planet sets a DEFINITE limit to the size of things we can do in this universe. We can't build telescopes bigger than a planet until we get off the planet. We can't build supercomputers to solve super science questions if they need more energy than a planet. Etc.
3/ And we could never afford to build those giant telescopes, or giant supercomputers, or traversing world ships to comfortably take communities to other stars while we have an *economy* limited by the scale of a planet.
4/ We can't imagine the things that will be possible once we get beyond the planet, just as ancient Sumerians couldn't imagine modern healthcare, the internet, and air travel, because those developed from a much larger economy than their river valley civilization could support.
5/ So to me, while the existence or non-existence of space aliens is scientifically and philosophically interesting, it doesn't significantly impact the value of moving civilization beyond this planetary limit.
6/6 The tremendous benefits to life here on our home planet and in our solar system are easily enough to make Space worthwhile. If any aliens are out there, I hope and trust they will figure it out, too 😄
