A Deeply, Disturbing Thought.

It's truly a rarity for a physicist to discuss philisophical topics. It's the collision of scientific reasoning and artisitic vision, giving birth to incredibly deep, speculations, notions and reflections. Consequently, I never give up the opportunity to listen to Neil Degrasse Tyson's interviews and panels. As an astrophysicist Neil Tyson manages to maintain and intellectual and thought provoking discussion all the while appealing to the general public as well. Now I have seen many of his interviews, yet this specific one never fails to intruige me no matter how many times I listen to it.

Although I will highlight the major insights offered by this brilliant man I highly suggest that you watch the video for yourself.

http://youtu.be/CAD25s53wmE?t=1h14m38s

       Neil begins by approaching the topic of intelligence and what it means for a species to be advanced. We humans are the only of our kind we know on this planet earth. We are able to communicate amongst ourselves and select other species, we conduct intricate experiments, we construct monuments of glass and steel, and of course, we are more than capable of changing our planet for good or ill. It's no wonder why we label ourselves as the most intelligent species of our planet. Next to us, there's the great apes. We share about 99% DNA with them. This inevitibaly leads us to another conclusion: everything we have and will be capable of, from the hubble space telescope to the ancient egyptian pyramids, arises from that diffence of 1%. It has to, as thats what defines us as humans and not apes.


       Now what if, in the same vector that we are different from chimps, there exists another species somewhere in our galaxy that is 1% more advanced from us? If chimps are nothing but slobbering, nose-picking primates to us, what would we humans be compared to this even more advanced species? In such a case, intelligence may be on a scale that we cannot even recognize. To them, we might as well be ants. Perhaps thats why we have yet to make contact with any other civilizations. And who are we to say otherwise? How often do you kneel down next to a colony of ants and start talking to them? You simply don't.
   
      To a certain extent I share Neil Tyson's distrubing thought. I am enormously jealous of the possibility of other life forms out there in the universe. We can scream and wave as much as we'd like but what if said species see's us as nothing but ants, we might never learn of their existance in the same way as ants are clueless of our advanced civilization.