Recent research for another story, led me to consider the
infinite. I first considered our own ‘universe’, containing many billions of
galaxies, each galaxy containing billions of stars, the vast majority of those the
stars with planets orbiting them, with the clear and high possibility that
advanced life resides there.
The question then follows … how many trillions
upon trillions of sentient beings, within our own galaxy, are out there
pondering the same question…right now?
And if string theory is correct, and there does exist the
multiverse, an infinite number of universes floating in the endless ether, like
soap bubbles, then what is the mathematical equation to estimate advanced life
in that endless sea?
Infinity…
What, I wondered, are some common denominators that might
run through those other beings? Of course, Maslow's hierarchy of needs comes to
mind, they are:
1. Biological and Physiological needs - food, drink,
shelter, warmth, sex, sleep.
2. Safety needs - protection from the elements, security, order,
law, stability, freedom from fear.
3. Love and belongingness needs - friendship, intimacy,
trust and acceptance, receiving and giving affection and love. Affiliating,
being part of a group (family, friends, work).
4. Esteem needs - achievement, mastery, independence,
status, dominance, prestige, self-respect, and respect from others.
5. Self-Actualization needs - realizing personal potential,
self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences.
Number three, I think, is a commonality that will transcend
time and space. If a creature is indeed sentient, having the capacity to feel,
perceive, and experience subjectively. Possessing that metaphysical quality
that requires a close, interpersonal relationship. Beyond the basic needs of
number one, above, the sentient entity will long for the knowledge that he, or
she, is loved.
I feel certain that wherever one might travel, in this or in
any universe, love will be there.
A thousand years from now, if mankind does not destroy
itself, humanity may likely be living on worlds far, far from the home planet.
Generations will come with no recollection of Earth at all, only knowing it
from legends, and bedtime stories.
Humans will encounter life alien to us. However, I think a
lot of what we find, on Earth like planets, will look much as we do.
The
engineering for the human being, residing on Earth, is perfect. Given
conditions here, like our atmosphere, gravity, and the other creatures we share
the planet with, our mental capacity, and how all these acted upon us during
our evolution, well, there is little else we could have become.
We are still evolving, of course, and will likely look
different a thousand years in the future, but I feel certain our physiology
will remain the same.
We will share worlds with ‘people’ who, though not
‘Earthlings’ will nevertheless be advanced, intelligent, and desirous of
friendship, intimacy, trust and acceptance. They will possess the ability to
receive and give affection. They will be quite capable of love, as are we.
As our authors and poets have written for centuries; love
suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is
never envious nor arrogant nor prideful. Nor is love conceited.
Doubtless, the bloodline of humanity will mix with other
races and spawn entirely new beings, with increased capacity, and hopefully,
greater intelligence.
I have ventured to hazard the possibility in my soon to be available third book in The Unborn Galaxy series, Across a Sea of Stars.
Visit my page, Michael Gonzales, fictionist:http://www.mikegonzalesauthor.com/home.html
Makes one think.
ReplyDeleteExcellent. I hope as you read Across a Sea of Stars, you'll find the idea both expanding, and the story enjoyable. :)
DeleteMaslow's Hierarchy of Needs has stood the test of time. If levels one and two aren't met, then level three is difficult to achieve and levels four and five are out of reach. In my teaching days, I mentored new teachers, and having them understand Maslow's hierarchy of needs was a priority.
ReplyDeleteYour statement made me sit back and consider: "I feel certain that wherever one might travel, in this or in any universe, love will be there." I think without love, there is no hope, and without hope, there is no love.
I enjoyed your article--though-provoking.
Thank you Kaye. There may very well be cultures on other worlds that came to sentients without Maslow's Hierarchy. Or perhaps they developed some other method. Nevertheless, if their intelligence exceeds that of insects or animals, who reproduce by instincts, then they must, I believe, experience love in some form.
DeleteIn Across a Sea of Stars I will explore the depth of love, from the abyss of its loss, to the pentacle of its power to affect all things.