Technology, aggression and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence

Abstract

In this paper it is shown that although strong evidence exists for the evolution of intelligent life throughout our galaxy, attempts at detecting radio transmissions from extraterrestrial civilizations are doomed to failure unless technological civilizations can exist for periods of the order of 1 million years. If evolving technological civilizations are so driven by aggressive instinctual behaviour that they self‐destruct in 100–1000 years, then the number of co‐existing civilizations is too small for there to be a significant chance of detection. The outcome of the current vigorous search for extraterrestrial intelligence therefore has great significance to our own world‐view when faced with the threat of nuclear war.

Key Words:

• Extraterrestrial intelligence
• Nuclear war
• Encephalization
• Aggression
• Nuclear winter