The original post: /r/aliens by /u/Grahlian on 2024-09-02 19:28:57.
There are many misconceptions about the nature of extraterrestrial beings, often based on simplistic observations of supposed sightings. People speculate about their homeworlds based on skin colour, or assume they originate on Earth simply because they breathe oxygen. However, these assumptions miss the bigger picture of what an ancient, superintelligent species might actually be.
The most likely scenario is that the small biological substrates—brains inside skulls and other organic structures—are far too limited to contain such advanced minds. The bodies we might encounter are likely just tools, vessels used to interact with our physical reality. We already use our bodies in a similar way, but our limitations are all we know. For beings far more advanced, the connection between consciousness and a physical body might be purely utilitarian.
Rethinking Alien Intelligence
We must reconsider our preconceptions about alien beings. It’s highly plausible that they are consciousnesses that have long transcended their original biological forms. Imagine ancient beings that have evolved far beyond anything we can comprehend, residing in artificial or simulated realities rather than organic bodies. To them, these bodies are little more than sensory instruments, allowing them to explore and manipulate the physical realm when necessary.
Our understanding of evolution is bound by our relatively short history, just a few generations removed from our ancestors who lived without agriculture, modern medicine, or the internet. In contrast, these alien minds may be experiencing a continuous, stable existence that spans thousands or even millions of years. Their technological advancements would be incomprehensible to us, far beyond our notions of modernity.
The Future of Consciousness
Looking ahead, humanity itself is on a path toward transcending biological limitations. Initiatives like Neuralink and advanced neural simulations indicate that, in the future, some humans may choose to exist outside their original bodies, migrating their consciousness into superior substrates. This transformation could occur gradually, swapping small percentages of neurons each day, much like the natural loss and replacement of brain cells over time.
This metaphorical journey of gradually shifting to artificial substrates challenges common fears about consciousness transfer. Just as we can lose cognitive function yet retain a sense of self, replacing parts of our brain with advanced materials might preserve and even enhance our identity. Imagine pausing the cognitive decline of aging and gradually replacing it with a more efficient substrate, gaining rather than losing mental capacity over time.
Aliens as Superconscious Entities
Now, let’s bring this back to the extraterrestrials observing us. It’s likely that they are not a civilization of biological beings like us, but superintelligent consciousnesses housed in artificial environments, whose motives and experiences are utterly alien. Their priorities and values are likely beyond our understanding, and their interest in us may be akin to a scientific curiosity or an evolutionary experiment.
Picture this: an advanced entity finds a planet teeming with life and identifies a line of primates with a potential, albeit slim, chance of evolving consciousness over millions of years. There might be an internal debate: should they intervene to ensure the development of these future conscious beings? To them, consciousness might be the ultimate value, compelling them to guide our evolution subtly.
As a result, humans emerge—a species just beginning to understand its place in the cosmos. While we might hope for eventual communication with these advanced beings, we must recognize that they likely see us much as we view early humans: primitive, driven by basic needs, and not yet ready for complex conversation.
Their patience might stem from a desire to see us reach a level of understanding where meaningful interaction is possible. They may be waiting for us to evolve into a post-scarcity civilization, where every conscious being has full control over their existence and can engage in dialogue as equals.
Conclusion
We must imagine these beings not as hundreds of millions of humans in animal bodies but as superior consciousnesses in artificial substrates. Our challenge is to transcend our limited understanding and reach a point where we can truly engage with these ancient minds. Until then, we remain an evolving curiosity, watched from afar by beings who may have once shaped our very existence. Only through technological and cognitive evolution can we hope to join them as true participants in the cosmic conversation.
