Bibliography: #4R6D685M

key	4R6D685M
title	A Darker Forest? : The Fermi Paradox and Extraterrestrial Spiritual Life
author	Faber, Roland
authority control	Roland Faber
item type	Book section
publication year	2024
date	2024
publication title	Astrophilosophy, Exotheology, and Cosmic Religion : Extraterrestrial Life in a Process Universe
ISBN	978-1-6669-4436-5 1-6669-4436-X
abstract note	This book examines the process philosophies of Whitehead and others against current discussions of astrobiology, extraterrestrial life, and their engagement by theological and religious systems. In chapter 15, “A Darker Forest? The Fermi Paradox and Extraterrestrial Spiritual Beings,” Roland Faber discusses various layers, assumptions, and implications of the “Dark Forest” hypothesis as one the more fascinating solutions to the Fermi paradox. The Dark Forest hypothesis states that the universe is not only biotic (ETL), but full of intelligent life (ETI). However, since the probability that the encounter of ETIs will lead to mutual destruction rather than cooperation is “astronomical,” everyone hides as though behind a tree in a dark forest, with any contact passively or actively leading to the eradication of the communicator. Is the Earth thus doomed? Faber argues that this conjecture is based on an assumption that evolution is locked, in Darwinian terms, in the survival of the fittest, and that even cooperation, as on Earth, is, if not the exception, merely a means for self-survival and promotion. However, in a detailed analysis, Faber shows how the philosophical resources found in Teilhard, Whitehead, and 'Abdu’l-Baha, specifically their religious intuitions and desires concerning the function of cosmic religiosity in the universe, can actually counter this dismal assumption. The question for Faber then becomes: How does the Fermi paradox impact not only their acceptance that life is ubiquitous (ETL) and suggestive of the appearance of intelligent life-forms (ETI) in our universe, but also support the claim that evolution tends to foster the emergence of spiritual life-forms (ETS) that might overcome this biotic, evolutionary condition of self-assertion, competition, and expansion? In layout of several propositions, and the various possibilities at play, Faber answers the Dark Forest hypothesis and the Fermi paradox from the perspective of the assumption of extraterrestrial spiritual life (ETS) and the Great Spiritual Barrier for star-faring civilizations. For Faber, humanity is the test subject whose open future may or may not further the emergence of the cosmic spirit of life
pages	455-519
series	Contemporary Whitehead Studies
publisher	Rowman & Littlefield
place	Lanham, MD
language	English
manual tags	'ABDU'L-BAHA; PHILOSOPHY; EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE; DARK FOREST HYPOTHESIS; EXOBIOLOGY; PROCESS; TEILHARD DE CHARDIN, PIERRE; WHITEHEAD, ALFRED NORTH
editor	Davis, Andrew M.; Faber, Roland

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