Literature Circle Discussion:
Synopsis:
Carl Sagan ponders what theoretical planet observers might think while orbiting and watching the Earth.
This excerpt was taken from 'Chapter 5: Is There Intelligent Life on Earth?' from the audiobook "Pale Blue
Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space", written in 1994.
A rare audiobook version of Sagan can be found here
“Perhaps, you think it's time to reassess the conjecture that there's intelligent life on Earth". Based on this article and video synopsis, why do you suppose it is important to our study of Biology this semester to understand both the definition, organization of life, and interdependence of life on Earth? After all, Life creates conditions conducive to Life, so isn’t there intelligence within Life itself? Post a reply to your discussion and the questions raised here. There is no right or wrong answer just opinions and reflections.
I think it is important to understand the concept of life for this class because, without that understanding I don't think it would be possible to look at non-living things or even small organisms. I believe that there are many living things on earth, but that they are not all intelligent. A cell is a living thing, but I would not say it is comparable to a person who is living. I think that humans are intelligent but not all living things are.
ReplyDeleteGo deeper in processing this question.
DeleteIt is important to study an understand Biology so that we may once again be classified as intelligent life. Humans are hard to classify as intelligent life when all we are doing is destroying our planet that we depend on for survival. There is intelligence within life because life makes it possible to sustain life.
ReplyDeleteGo deeper in processing this question.
DeleteWe need to understand all those things to study biology because biology is all about living things and how we are put together. I believe that all life on earth isn't intelligent. Based on the reading, the actions of the living things are ruining the earth. That's not really intelligent.
ReplyDeleteNot just about how we are put together, but how we fit in, interact, and depend on the other form of life on the planet. Those actions rest on one species of intelligent life -Humans
DeleteGo deeper in processing this question and next time reflect with a clear vision of what you want to convey. Your on the right path but need to develop a stronger arguement.
I would say that there is intelligent life on earth. There are organisms that have devised tools and methods, outside of evolution, that have allowed them to live and even thrive in a variety of environments. These organisms, however, may not have made the best decisions, decisions that could seem unintelligent, but their intricacies and advancements are sure signs of intelligence, but their decisions may show some lack in reason.
ReplyDeleteGood concept of "intelligence" outside the realm of evolution. Reason is another good argument that with intelligence there is a responsibility to use it in consideration of the consequences to the contingency that "life creates conditions conducive to life".
DeleteMany people argue that humans are not intelligent life because all we are doing is destroying ourselves, but this can be changed. We must understand biology so we can realize that our life is completely dependent on our planet and our cooperation on keeping it alive.
ReplyDeleteGood start, now develop those thoughts into a stronger case.
DeleteNo, there is not intelligence just a a part of life itself. A microbe can hardly be considered intelligence, as it does not use any form of tools, create any sort of buildings or structures, and does not cultivate and harvest other life for its own gain. Life does indeed create conditions conducive to itself, but most of the time, that's for one species at a time. Intelligent life can be best understood as domestication. To stretch the metaphor a bit, we've "domesticated" various materials (steel, types of wood, plastic, etc) purely for our own gain, not even to mention the domestication of other animals- again, purely for our own gain.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, as Carl Sagan shows, being in it just for yourself has some negative consequences (killing the planet).
Really strong analysis. Good work.
Delete