Solving Fermi's Paradox

An introduction to the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence through the lens of Fermi's paradox, discussing methodology and potential solutions.

Duncan H. Forgan (Author)

9781107163652, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 May 2019

426 pages, 72 b/w illus.
25.2 x 17.8 x 2.4 cm, 1 kg

'If intelligent life is common in the Universe, where is everybody? In this comprehensive review, Duncan Forgan presents a range of possible solutions to this question, and in doing so covers a lot of ground on the topic of SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). From the outset, Forgan recognizes that this topic demands a multi-disciplinary approach that encompasses 'all of human knowledge', and in particular, expertise not only in the 'hard sciences' but also in social sciences and the humanities.' Michael A. Garrett, The Observatory

The search for extra-terrestrial intelligence (SETI) has for sixty years attempted to solve Fermi's paradox: if intelligent life is relatively common in the universe, where is everybody? Examining SETI through this lens, this volume summarises current thinking on the prevalence of intelligent life in the universe, and discusses sixty-six distinct solutions to the so-called paradox. It describes the methodology of SETI, and how many disciplines feed into the debate, from physics and biology, to philosophy and anthropology. The presented solutions are organised into three key groups: rare-Earth solutions, suggesting planetary habitability, life and intelligence are uncommon; catastrophist solutions, arguing civilisations do not survive long enough to make contact; and non-empirical solutions, those that take theoretical approaches, such as that our methodology is flawed. This comprehensive introduction to SETI concludes by looking at the future of the field and speculating on humanity's potential fate.

Preface
Part I. Introduction: 1. Introducing the paradox
2. Fact A – the great silence
3. Classifying scenarios and solutions to the paradox
Part II. Rare Earth Solutions: 4. Habitable worlds are rare
5. Life is rare
6. Intelligence is rare
Part III. Catastrophist Solutions: 7. Doomsday arguments
8. Death by impact
9. Death by terrestrial disaster
10. Death by star
11. Death on a galactic scale?
12. Death by unsustainable growth
13. Death by self-induced environmental change
14. Self-destruction at the nanoscale
15. Artificial intelligence and the singularity
16. War
17. Societal collapse
Part IV. Uncommunicative Solutions: 18. Intelligent life is new
19. Exploration is imperfect
20. Probe exploration is dangerous
21. The aliens are quiet
22. They live too far away
23. The zoo/interdict hypothesis
24. The simulation hypothesis
25. They are already here
26. They were here long ago
Part V. Conclusions: 27. Solving Fermi's paradox
Appendix A. A database of solutions to Fermi's paradox
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Biology, life sciences [PS], Astrophysics [PHVB], Solar system: the Sun & planets [PGS], Galaxies & stars [PGM], Theoretical & mathematical astronomy [PGC]