Earth (and intelligent life) maybe REALLY unique in the Galaxy? (Book Tips too)

[cbrunny]

Are you suggesting that evolution cannot exist unless the organism exists in a state other than purgatory? Because it seems to me that purgatory is an impossible state, meaning evolution can exist in any state.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Are you suggesting that evolution cannot exist unless the organism exists in a state other than purgatory? Because it seems to me that purgatory is an impossible state, meaning evolution can exist in any state.

Evolution is what happens to imperfect replicators. Period.

 

[cbrunny]

Evolution is what happens to imperfect replicators. Period.

in which case an obstacle is not a requirement for evolution.

 

[agent00f]

Uhm..there is not anything "I don't seem to grasp", but nevertheless it might have changed the old notion that there are "zillions of Earth-like planets out there"....to "those are out there, but likely MUCH less frequently as thought before". I am not necessarily agreeing with him that the Earth would be only one or two of such planets in the galaxy. I am aware that if "freak accidents" happened here, they must also have happened elsewhere. Often? No, but they don't have to. I don't see it as easy to calculate the odds to be honest. Because it is well correct, if "freak occurrences" occurred here, then they can well occur elsewhere. And I think it's definitely naive to start thinking of "life as we know it" since HOW life could possibly develop and adapt..who knows?

For example, ONE of his arguments with the less stable orbits in binary star systems, I could well think of life which during millions of years somehow adopts to tolerate such extremes, even if life "as we know it" wouldn't thrive in such a system.

If you look even into "basic" physical biology like ATP proteins it's evident how little we understand of life as we "know" it, nevermind which other ways it could've gone. Seems to me that any claim our situation is meaningfully unique is completely preposterous given such ignorance.