On Human Curiosity about Aliens

I find it very odd that we are the only creatures on Earth with advanced intelligence -- or at least, the combination of intelligence and the ability to make things. Arguably whales and elephants are pretty bright, but, alas, no thumbs. Still, given the apparent advantages that intelligence confers, it is weird to me that there aren't more critters around us writing books and making bombs.

I suppose one reason for this is that early humans were very good at wiping out other humanoid variants that didn't look exactly like them. So other branches of the tree were pruned by our in-built propensity for violence and racism. Depressing thought, eh?

Still, I figure that on other planets that harbor intelligent life, there isn't such a monopoly on intelligence as humans enjoy on Earth. I think this monopoly on intelligence and civilization has given us a very warped view of our place in the world (and the universe). For one, we have an extremely human-centric view of the world that is deeply embedded in western civilization. Man created in God's image, and all that rot. This monopoly has led us to wonder: is there other intelligent life out there -- that is, are there aliens on other planets that we could invite over for a bar-b-que.

We would view things very differently if there were half a dozen other species that were as culturally and technically advanced as we were. If, say, raccoons and lizards were much bigger, could talk and build things, and had weapons, we might not be so eager to ask the question: is there intelligent life out there. For one, we'd be too busy defending our turf against other intelligent mammals and reptiles to wonder about life out there. Secondly, we would be more frightened about what we might find. Inviting the top predator of some other planet over for tea might not seem like such an appealing idea.

Humans (or at least westerners) have historically believed Earth was the center of the universe, and was unique in harboring life. That's a quirk or our belief system. Aliens may hold no such illusion, and may assume quite the opposite: life is universal, governed universally by evolutionary pressures. If you take that position, then you don't wonder whether other intelligent life is out there -- you assume it is. The question is more whether it's tasty to you, or whether you're tasty to it.