Philosophy of Extraterrestrial Life Is thinking about the possibility of extrate
ID: 153487 • Letter: P
Question
Philosophy of Extraterrestrial Life Is thinking about the possibility of extraterrestrial life a recent development? What was the Aristotelian view of the composition of the heavens compared to the Earth? Did this view encourage the idea that it was likely that there was extraterrestrial life? What was the view of the Greek atomists of the composition of the heavens compared to the Earth? Did this view encourage the idea that it was likely that there was extraterrestrial life? What other goal besides scientific investigation did speculating about extraterrestrial life in science fiction serve?Explanation / Answer
1. No, Extraterrestrial life is not a recent developement. It has been thought about and spoken of from the ancient times.
2. According to Aristotle in "On the Heavens", the heavenly bodies are the most perfect realities, or substances, whose motions are ruled by principles other than those of bodies in the sublunary sphere. The latter are composed of one or all of the four classical elements i.e. earth, water, air, fire and are perishable; but the matter of which the heavens are made is imperishable aether, so they are not subject to generation and corruption. Hence their motions are eternal and perfect, and the perfect motion is the circular one, which, unlike the earthly up-and down-ward locomotions, can last eternally selfsame. As substances, celestial bodies have matter (aether) and form (a given period of uniform rotation).
His explanation on this somewhat suggests the idea on his encouragement in so-called “plurality of worlds”.
3. A number of important theorists in ancient Greek natural philosophy held that the universe is composed of physical ‘atoms’, literally ‘uncuttables’. There emphasis on heavens was more on composite of atoms as produced purely by material interactions of bodies, and accounting for the perceived properties of macroscopic bodies as produced by these same atomic interactions.
There views didnt't give strong support to extraterrestrial life.
4. Researchers have tried to communicate with aliens during the past few decades. This included the protocols for "first contact," or the moment when humans have a confirmed communication with extraterrestrial life.
But first goal is- researchers need to know where to look.
Of course, science fiction has its horror stories as well for microbes. A quick glance at recent films ("Life" and "Alien: Covenant," for example) shows humans reacting very badly after coming in contact with foreign microbes. Historically, NASA has been concerned about this, too. The agency put the first few Apollo crews into quarantineafter they landed on the moon, even though there was little to no chance of microbes surviving on the radiation-baked, airless lunar surface. When trying to think about where microbial aliens may reside, scientists often look to analogs on Earth to help them better understand. Harsh desert environments, salty water and acidic underwater vents are some "extreme life" scenarios that researchers examine, although the limits of life still may not be known.