I think it would be a disaster. The extraterrestrials would probably be far in advance of us. The history of advanced races meeting more primitive people on this planet is not very happy, and they were the same species. I think we should keep our heads low.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Hawking warns that contacting advanced extraterrestrials could be dangerous for humanity.
- In plain terms
- He compares potential alien contact to historical encounters where advanced groups harmed primitive ones.
- What can you take from it?
- Caution is advised when encountering superior civilizations.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Should we announce our presence to the universe?
- What risks does space exploration carry?
Another view
It assumes alien motives would be hostile based on human history.
More from Stephen Hawking
When I hear of Schrodinger's cat, I reach for my gun.
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