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The Fermi Paradox
SF writer Charles Stross tackles the question: “We exist, therefore intelligent life in this universe is possible. The universe is big; even if life is rare, it’s very unlikely that we’re alone out here. So where is everybody? Why can’t we hear their radio transmissions or see gross physical evidence of all the galactic empires out there?”
Posted on Friday, May 16 2008 | Permalink
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It could be (very depressingly) that FTL and even FAL travel is impossible, with the result that any species that tries to leave its solar system has to slowboat it. So no empires exist, and even an ekumene a la the Greeks in the Med. around 500 BC is impossible.
It could simply be a function of the youth of the Galaxy. It takes billions of years to evolve intelligence and we are among the first.
It could also be that most species to not produce high tech societies. Of all the societies on Earth, how many _on their own_ invented the Industrial Revolution and Capitalism? Would Arab society on its own build starships?