𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐎𝐑𝐘
Why the Dark Forest Theory Says We Should Stop Looking for Aliens
Sometimes it’s better if your presence stays a secret.
We have been fascinated with the possibility of extraterrestrial life for many years now. Humans look up at the stars and ask that existential question: Are we alone?
The truth is, it may be better that we believe ourselves to be. With billions of Earth-like planets estimated in the Milky Way alone, most of which have been around far longer than our humble little world.
Yet, we haven’t heard a peep from the stars. There’s got to be a reason and it’s the question posed by Enrico Fermi so many years ago. The Great Filter is a common answer but it is extremely vague as to what that reason could be.
The Dark Forest theory, however, is both clear and terrifying.
In short terms, this theory basically says that aliens are purposefully staying quiet. The science fiction novel the theory is based on was written by Liu Cixin.
Essentially, this theory assumes all life in the Universe would be risk-averse. Thinking in terms of survival, and recognizing that the Universe is a vast space, they would not make efforts to reach out to contact others in the case that a violent civilization…
