With current interest in extraterrestrials at a peak, this book is a collection of original and reprinted articles advancing the latest scientific ideas as to the possible existence and nature of extraterrestrial intelligent life. Usually this subject is treated only in popular media, such as science fiction novels, movies, and television. Recently, however, scientists and researchers have begun to consider in earnest whether extraterrestrials really exist, whether they have evolved from simpler forms of life, whether they have evolved intelligence, and if so whether their modes of understanding the world are comparable to and congruent with our own. The contributors to this volume cover these topics, and also consider how we might communicate with aliens, and whether we would be able to understand the alien messages we might receive. Finally the authors, who include distinguished scientists, speculate whether the aliens might have a moral code, and what might be our moral obligations in the event any extraterrestrials were ever discovered.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A useful collection of speculative articles,
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This review is from: Extraterrestrials (Hardcover)
In this collection, published in 1985, Regis offers us a wide variety of perspectives on the search for and possible contact with extraterrestrial intelligent beings. The balance tends to lean toward Regis' own skepticism. As always in collections, the quality of the articles varies considerably; those that stick closest to the scientific questions tend to be more cleanly argued, while those addressing cultural, moral, and ethical issues are more discursive. Lewis White Beck's 1971 speech, the first item in the book, is remarkable for its foresight and breadth. Reading that piece and others may not leave you convinced one way or the other, but you will be better informed.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A classic,
By A Customer
This review is from: Extraterrestrials (Paperback)
If you want to go into depth on the rationale for the search for extraterrestrial inteligence, this anthology, like Shklovskii and Sagan's book, is a must-read. Mind you, it is a little dated and a number of the contributions are frustratingly vague, but several of the essays are classics, such as Marvin Minsky's, "Why intelligent aliens will be intelligible."
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