Ren R 260 Final Exam

• Gauguin's questions

• where do we come from?

• What are we?

• where are we going?

Fermi's paradox

contradiction btw high probability of extraterrestrial civilization and lack of contact

Solution:

• life is difficult to start and evolve

  • hard to start

  • hard to find right conditions

• Advanced civilization destroy themselves

  • short timescale

Drake's equation

Estimate number/ probability of intelligent life

Kardasher Scale

Development (type) of civilization based on energy consumption

1. use all of planet's resources efficiently

2. harness solar system's energy

3. harness glaxay's energy

The great filter

challenges to overcome for evolution or progress

1. planet cabable of life in star's habitable zone

2. life developes

3. ability to reproduce

4. simple cells (prokaryotes) into complex cells (eukaryote)

5. multicellular develope

6. sexual reproduction occurs (increase genetic diversity)

7. complex organisms capable of using tools

8. advanced technology for space colonization

9. colonize other worlds and solar systems (avoid self-destruction)

Humans have created own great filter!

• climate change , war, population growth, disease, etc

where do we come from?

• Originate from africa

What are we?

• Evolution (19th Century)

  • Earthis older then bible

  • Darwin → theory of evolution

• Rapid evolution

  • culture + technology > nature and capabilities

    • be aware of limitations

    • predisposition to patterns of behaviour

The great experiment

shaped more by culture then nature

• civilization = culture+ technology

• Physically generalists but culturally specialized

Victorian Ideal of Progress

progress= technology

• irreversible

• one direction

Progress Trap

material progress creates problem only solved through more progress

Megafauna extinction

extinction of megafauna after human immigration

• Paleolithic: overhunting (progress trap)

Neolithic revolution

overhunting (hunter gather) of paleolithic → farming (agriculture) of Neolithic

• crop domestication

• animal domestication

• dependent on stable climate

develope Hierarchy

hunter gather

• small town /village

• Egalitarian

• little difference in power

Farming

• develope civilization

• hierarchical system

• differences in wealth and power

Idea of wilderness

Max Oelschlager: humankind's relation with nature

• Paleolithic (prehistoric)

  • harmony with nature

  • part of wilderness

• Neolithic (ancient)

  • distinction btw humans (civilized) and nature (primitive)

  • civilization= human triumph over nature

• Modern

  • human separate from nature

  • wilderness has no instric value only instrumental

  • human seek to transform wilderness to civilized