cjh@CCA-UNIX@sri-unix (10/20/82)
It may be reasonable to conclude that Tipler's argument "shows that the distances between stars impose no barrier to intelligent civilizations' being aware of each other"; however, it also shows that he can't step outside of his primitive anthropomorphism and suppose that another intelligent race would differ from us enough not to want to spread through the galaxy like a disease. As long as we're considering alien intelligences it is worthwhile to weigh all of the speculations in SF, since many authors show more ability to think with a wider perspective than Tipler (at least as he's been represented here; I haven't read any of the material summarized by others in this digest). For a sampler, consider that most races would devote themselves solely to communications, as shown in SONGS FROM THE STARS (Spinrad---otherwise a thoroughly obnoxious book). So far, we have much evidence that expansive urges are ultimately self- destructive (although the alternatives aren't much fun either---consider dynastic Egypt or China). To assume that we can project the development of aliens past our own level (in view of the dreadful record of such predictions attempted on our own society) or even guess at their motivations is a peculiarly monstrous egotism.