The Fermi Paradox

The Fermi Paradox requires us to remember the principle of mediocrity. If the Universe is more or less the same everywhere, then there should be "advanced" civilizations everywhere. So: Where is everybody?

The paradox is this:

  • The idea that neither we nor our planet is special suggests that someone should have colonized the galaxy by now. This is because once you've got the technology to send rockets throughout the galaxy, colonization goes pretty fast (on galactic timescales).

  • The idea of a galactic civilization implies that we should be surrounded by evidence of this civilization, but no such evidence (aside from UFOs, which we'll talk about in a few minutes, and which aren't all that believable) exist.

    What are some ways out of this paradox?

    Back Next

    Back to Lecture 26 outline

    Back to lectures page

    Back to main course page