Phoenix
by Dale J. Sprague
White Papers
Fermi's Paradox
Enrico Fermi, cognizant of what the Drake equation estimates and to what many intuitively believe, offered the query, "If there are so many in the universe, where is everybody?" Hence, Fermi's Paradox. The solution offered here amounts to an un'testable hypothesis, but sometimes, an un'testable hypothesis can also serve.
This solution to Fermi's paradox assumes that the pleasure principle is universal for all cognitive beings, that is, all cognitive beings need entertainment. Whether intellectually, physically, or spiritually motivated, the pleasure principle applies, directly or indirectly, instantaneously or delayed with happy expectations. Surely we can assume that members of an advanced extraterrestrial community, ETC, are not all scientists, and even their scientists are motivated by the pleasure principle from their work, if they should happen to not have much of a life apart from their work. Earth may be one of ETCs favorite cable TV offerings...drama, humor, documentary, scientific observation. If true, they would do everything in their power to preserve their source of entertainment, which may have existed throughout the generations of humankind.
Of course, today, with this scenario, the need for ETCs to remain hidden would be paramount. An un'testable hypothesis for Fermi's Paradox?...perfect. Rather than a natural zoological preserve, preserved for some posterity of the Cosmos, and equally attuned to Occum's Razor, would be a motivation of a more personal and universal nature relating to the pleasure principle. I would assume that if there is a Prime Directive in the ETC community, it would include an entertainment factor, in that, advanced ETCs would have entertainment network security on their agenda as much as any other high priority item.
A very advanced high tech society, advanced far beyond what we could imagine, having necessarily solved their sociological ills to become that advanced, would perhaps have, equal to knowledge, entertainment, amusement to pursue and develop...the challenge of getting their front'row seat of candid drama, comedy, and documentary, observing nature in vivo, as it were, for the fans of their Wild Kingdom, without being discovered, and at the same time, in exchange for their entertainment, contribute to the preservation of the natural beauty of our Earthly esthetics, values of which are also presumed to be universally shared..an entertainment environment for them, and an environment for us within which to spiritually evolve.
The entertainment factor, the pleasure principle...why wouldn't an advanced ETC be as creative and protective, be as readily supportive and generous in preserving their stage as every being on our planet does for their own?
Since distance is a significant barrier to make contact, advanced ET communication technology may have developed around this barrier. In terms of communication technology, ETCs may be to us as we are to ants.
In this scenario, ET stands as much for entertainment as as it does for extraterrestrial. With very advanced ETCs, the ability to suspend disbelief among themselves is presumed to be negligible, but 'suspension of disbelief' for fiction, or observation of candid behavior is essential for entertainment; therefore, such ETCs would have to turn to realities such as ours for entertainment...reality shows, as it were. We are akin to them as cognitive beings. This empathic connection would make the entertainment factor more effective. If I were a member of an ETC, I would find the stage of Earth, very entertaining. Soap opera, drama, action adventure, the taboo, the macabre...we have it all. In the words of Shakespeare, "the world is a stage," is a metaphoric expression that perhaps is more true than what Shakespeare intended.
And what if it were true? For me, as long as this scenario remains an un'testable hypothesis, I wouldn't be bothered at all by its prospect. I wouldn't feel the least bit inhibited...and they would know this.
Who knows?...all the insensible polarization that has spawned so much violence in the history of humankind, much of which originated from so-called "divine revelation," perhaps merely sets the world stage for someone else to view our on'going comedy'drama, natural beauty, and our spiritual evolution...scientific information for some, entertainment for others.
Upon the earthen ground amid twigs and pebbles of all kinds, the ant labored long. And I peered closer to see the huge fragment of leaf that the ant was diligently dragging with incredible strength. Many others were passing'by with ease. They were carrying easily, food and debris of lesser weight than themselves. This ant struggled far with one large morsel of food, pushing, pulling with undaunted will upon a crooked path back to its hill. In comfort do I continue to watch, and so close am I to this hard working creature..yet I, this creature perceives not. I am watching an entity of life that is unable to see me, as I see...and then, all became silent, I felt a deep stillness. I looked aside, closeby, to the sky...who is there!?...watching me, seeing me, as they are able to see
~from "Collage," Phoenix