The discussion centers around the financial needs of SETI@Home and the broader implications of the SETI program. Participants explore the value of funding SETI in the context of scientific research, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the philosophical questions surrounding humanity's place in the universe.
Participants generally express a mix of skepticism and support for SETI, with no clear consensus on its value or the appropriateness of funding. Multiple competing views remain regarding the justification for SETI's financial needs and its role in scientific exploration.
Some arguments rely on assumptions about the nature of advanced civilizations and the potential for contact, while others highlight the complexities of funding priorities in science versus other societal needs. The discussion reflects a range of perspectives on the value of fundamental research.
Ivan Seeking said:SETI was begun when it was realized that to some reasonable limit, we could detect us - at that point it made sense to look for other worlds. Nobody is attempting to contact or hide from anyone. SETI seeks to definitively answer the question: Are we alone?
Ivan Seeking said:It is fundamental research which is always difficult to justify, but often the source of the greatest break throughs. And beyond that, if we were to prove the existence of intelligent life elsewhere, it would change humanity forever. This would be one of the greatest, or perhaps even the greatest new truth of all time - a consciousness expanding event much like when we realized that the entire universe doesn't rotate about the earth, which were words to die for at the time.
chroot said:It's a "gimmie." We might as well do it, even though everyone agrees it's probably not going to find anything.
Ivan Seeking said:It is fundamental research which is always difficult to justify, but often the source of the greatest break throughs. And beyond that, if we were to prove the existence of intelligent life elsewhere, it would change humanity forever. This would be one of the greatest, or perhaps even the greatest new truth of all time - a consciousness expanding event much like when we realized that the entire universe doesn't rotate about the earth, which were words to die for at the time.
How do you know if an advance civiltion think it's waste of time to come here?I think it would be better for use to make contact with them first instead of them making contact with us.Curious3141 said:I firmly believe SETI to be a waste of time. If an advanced civilisation wants to contact us, they will find a way. If a really advanced civilisation wants to completely hide their existence, they'll find a way.
SETI is like a geek's home physics project writ large. Money can be better spent on other legitimate scientific ventures (and ...gasp, humanitarian ventures).
I firmly believe SETI to be a waste of time. If an advanced civilisation wants to contact us, they will find a way. If a really advanced civilisation wants to completely hide their existence, they'll find a way.
We should do it patiently though. If we can't afford it, we must wait until we can.
symplectic_manifold said:"So if somebody wants to find us let'm do it" - sounds pretty egoistic and fully indifferent, don't you find??
I think a civilization which doesn't make just a bit of effort to search for anybody of its own kind simply does not deserve to be called "advanced"!
Why? Because so it has already lost its purpose, which is to discover its own nature, try to answer the "simple" question - "Who are we?"
Knowing one's own core is for humans as vital and fundamental as water and breathing. Though it's another level - it has to do with human consciousness and psyche. And in fact our life and progress depends on these most of all!
So in SETI's case even a timid attempt counts.
We will never be able in these terms!
What people do is exactly what you said - they wait until their "material appetite" is gone. But they fully forget that human greediness and a real obsession to posess, more and more, are just insatiable! Values are nowadays not in the right place! They moved to trigger obsessive, wrong capitalism.
I find it a very complex problem. But there has to be done something in our society...immediately! And there is no time to wait because the situation is just worsening!
Here SETI can also come into play and show what the true picture really is!
symplectic_manifold said:The US has enough money but it's in the wrong hands, like in any other country. But it's not the country that matters most. It's the problem of the whole World! WE're off the track, Guys!
As I said the problem is difficult. SETI must obey the "jungle law" - the strongest survives. But it's a pity that the "jungle" rots and almost absolutely ignores that fact! So unfortunately, a different world cannot be built by indifferent people!
Again, one wonders why people don't read up on this stuff first......I think it would be better for use to make contact with them first instead of them making contact with us...