Do Extraterrestrials Have Sex (and Intelligence)?

• Published in: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2000-04, Vol.907 (1), p.164-181
• Main Author: BARKOW, JEROME H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Altruism; Biological Evolution; Cognition; Culture; Extraterrestrial Environment; Female; Humans; Intelligence; Male; Sexual Behavior; Social Responsibility; Space life sciences
• ISSN: 0077-8923; 1749-6632
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2000.tb06622.x

: This thought experiment addresses the range of possible evolved psychologies likely to be associated with extraterrestrial (ET) intelligence. The analysis rests on: (1) a number of assumptions shared by the SETI project; (2) recent arguments concerning convergent evolution; and (3) current theories of how intelligence evolved in our own species. It concludes that, regardless of how and which cognitive abilities arise initially, extraterrestrially they can develop into intelligence only if an amplification process involving a form of predation and/or sexual selection occurs. Depending on the amplification process, ETs may be xenophobic; however, it is more probable that they will be ethnocentric. Their ideas of reciprocity and fairness are likely to at least overlap with our own. They will definitely be culture‐bearing and probably have two sexes, both of which are intelligent. Regardless of the degree of physical similarity of ETs to ourselves, convergence makes it likely that we will at least find their evolved psychology similar enough to our own for comprehension.