Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Search for extraterrestrial intelligence" in English language version.
Despite all their scientific trappings, the extraterrestrials discussed by scientists are as imaginary as the spirits and gods of religion or myth.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to know if SETI is an effective use of resources. If the Rare Earth Hypothesis is correct, then it clearly is a futile effort.Revised edition (first published in 2000)
SETI enthusiasts believe that the human race is characterized by mediocrity rather than excellence. According to Frank Drake and his followers, this means that intelligent life is common in the universe. Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee challenge the principle of mediocrity with the rare Earth hypothesis in their book Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe (2000).
In many ways, the rare-Earth hypothesis has since become somewhat of a default position in many astrobiological circles, and – since it predicts the absence of rationale for SETI – a mainstay of SETI scepticism. [...] There are many criticisms rightly raised against the rare-Earth Hypothesis, but here I shall mention just one.
Milan M. Ćirković is a research professor at the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade, (Serbia) and a research associate of the Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford.
But in the case of SETI, negative results are what is expected most of the time, perhaps even forever, regardless of the truth of the central hypothesis. This raises the question: when will SETI researchers think that enough negatives have been accumulated to reject the hypothesis of existence of other technological civilizations? If the answer is that such hypothesis can never be rejected, regardless of the empirical results, that pushes SETI uncomfortably close to the status of pseudoscience. There is another way to look at the problem, based on an additional element (besides empirical evidence and testability) ...
{{cite encyclopedia}}: |website= ignored (help)Indeed, SETI is marked by a hope, bordering on faith, that not only are there civilizations broadcasting out there, but that they are somehow intent on beaming their signals at Earth. An alien SETI project relying on a similar faith in Earth would be sorely disappointed. It's true that a random mix of radar and television signals has been expanding outwards from Earth at the speed of light for the past 70 years. But there have been only a few short-lived attempts to target radio messages at other stars – with each attempt arousing concerns over alien reprisals. Understandably, many scientists who support SETI in spirit have instead pursued astronomical targets more likely to offer positive data – and tenure. Governments have also been averse to funding an effort so likely to turn up nothing.
Indeed, SETI is marked by a hope, bordering on faith, that not only are there civilizations broadcasting out there, but that they are somehow intent on beaming their signals at Earth. An alien SETI project relying on a similar faith in Earth would be sorely disappointed. It's true that a random mix of radar and television signals has been expanding outwards from Earth at the speed of light for the past 70 years. But there have been only a few short-lived attempts to target radio messages at other stars – with each attempt arousing concerns over alien reprisals. Understandably, many scientists who support SETI in spirit have instead pursued astronomical targets more likely to offer positive data – and tenure. Governments have also been averse to funding an effort so likely to turn up nothing.
Indeed, SETI is marked by a hope, bordering on faith, that not only are there civilizations broadcasting out there, but that they are somehow intent on beaming their signals at Earth. An alien SETI project relying on a similar faith in Earth would be sorely disappointed. It's true that a random mix of radar and television signals has been expanding outwards from Earth at the speed of light for the past 70 years. But there have been only a few short-lived attempts to target radio messages at other stars – with each attempt arousing concerns over alien reprisals. Understandably, many scientists who support SETI in spirit have instead pursued astronomical targets more likely to offer positive data – and tenure. Governments have also been averse to funding an effort so likely to turn up nothing.
"For all we know, maybe Venus had cities all over it a billion years ago and now they're gone," he [Jason Wright] said.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: |website= ignored (help)Unfortunately, it is very difficult to know if SETI is an effective use of resources. If the Rare Earth Hypothesis is correct, then it clearly is a futile effort.Revised edition (first published in 2000)
SETI enthusiasts believe that the human race is characterized by mediocrity rather than excellence. According to Frank Drake and his followers, this means that intelligent life is common in the universe. Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee challenge the principle of mediocrity with the rare Earth hypothesis in their book Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe (2000).
In many ways, the rare-Earth hypothesis has since become somewhat of a default position in many astrobiological circles, and – since it predicts the absence of rationale for SETI – a mainstay of SETI scepticism. [...] There are many criticisms rightly raised against the rare-Earth Hypothesis, but here I shall mention just one.
Milan M. Ćirković is a research professor at the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade, (Serbia) and a research associate of the Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford.
But in the case of SETI, negative results are what is expected most of the time, perhaps even forever, regardless of the truth of the central hypothesis. This raises the question: when will SETI researchers think that enough negatives have been accumulated to reject the hypothesis of existence of other technological civilizations? If the answer is that such hypothesis can never be rejected, regardless of the empirical results, that pushes SETI uncomfortably close to the status of pseudoscience. There is another way to look at the problem, based on an additional element (besides empirical evidence and testability) ...