Today, there are contrasting views about the nature of alien minds. One such perspective includes the notion that the alien mind bears similarities to the human mind. Anderson, D. L. (2008), posits that there is a high possibility that other planets are home to aliens that have similar cognitive capabilities to those of human beings. The second key perspective is that human nature is similar to alien nature, in that, it is dualist. According to Velasquez (2011), the dualist perspective stipulates that human beings have immaterial minds contained in material bodies. The third key perspective about the alien mind postulates that aliens have a relatively inferior mind when compared to that of human beings. This point of view holds that the alien mind shares similarities with that of weird sea creatures such as an octopus. While the existence of extraterrestrial aliens is not entirely certain, different perspectives offer insights into what is known about the alien mind.
An Analysis of Alien Minds
From an analytical perspective, there are contrasting views about the nature and configuration of alien minds. Researchers, scientists, pundits and science fiction enthusiast harbor divergent perspectives about the alien body and mind. The first key perspective holds that alien minds bears similarities to the mind of cephalopods such as squid, octopuses and cuttlefish. Godfrey-Smith (2017), asserts that cephalopods are almost certainly the closest humans will ever come to coming into contact with an intelligent extraterrestrial alien. It is worth noting that cephalopods have a certain of aura of mental sophistication that is only comparable to the alien mind (Godfrey-Smith, 2017). In essence, the mental complexity associated with cephalopods give them a powerful feeling of engagement that signifies the gradual evolution of their minds, as well as sophisticated behavior (Godfrey-Smith, 2017). According to Godfrey-Smith (2017), future interactions between humans and aliens are likely to have similarities with the interactions between humans and cephalopods since the mind of cephalopods has undergone a twofold evolution over time.
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The second key perspective about alien minds is unique, in that, it compares the alien mind to the human mind. Even though little is known about the true capabilities of the alien mind, existing research shows that there exists similarities between cognitive capabilities of aliens and those of humans. Godfrey-Smith (2017), for instance, posits that there is a high possibility that the cognitive capabilities of extraterrestrial aliens residing on distance planets match those of human beings. This view is largely supported by the producers of famous film franchises such as ‘The Extraterrestrial’ and ‘Star Wars’ (Godfrey-Smith, 2017). According to Godfrey-Smith (2017), the cognitive capabilities associated with the alien mind allow aliens to do a host of things, key among them being speaking in their own language, creating art works, discerning between right and wrong, in addition to creating literature. The ability of aliens to distinguish between right and wrong using their minds gives them certain inalienable rights that human beings cannot take away from them (Godfrey-Smith, 2017). As such, human should not view them as lesser beings or property that can be bought and sold at will (Godfrey-Smith, 2017). An analysis of the above perspective about the alien mind reveals that it is distinct from widely held views about the nature of the alien mind. A significant proportion of humans believe that the alien mind is somewhat superior to that of humans in various ways. First, the alien mind is capable of performing acts that can only be deemed as a magical by the common man. Second, the alien mind is predisposed to perform acts of evil, violence and destruction against humans and on most occasions their superior minds allows them to prevail over humans in fictional settings such as those found in science fiction movies. It is thus clear that the aforementioned perspective on the alien mind is often dogged by controversy.
The third point of view concerning what we can know about alien minds relates to the dualist perspective. It is worth noting that the dualist perspective denotes the manner in which immaterial minds are contained in material bodies ( Velasquez, 2011). Just like human beings, the immaterial minds of aliens are contained in material bodies. Material bodies, in this context, denotes physical bodies that can both be seen and touched. Meanwhile, immaterial minds can neither be seen nor touched, and their existence in the bodies of aliens can only be discerned from their actions and decisions. The dualist perspective owes its origins to the original adopters of the conventional perspective of human configuration ( Velasquez, 2011) . One such adopter includes Rene Descartes who left little doubt about the existence of immaterial minds in human bodies ( Velasquez, 2011) . The essential configuration of both the human and the alien mind remains its conscious capacity to reason. This makes both sets of minds fundamentally distinct from the physical body they inhabit. Rene Descartes asserts that humans are capable of conceiving themselves as existing short of a physical body ( Velasquez, 2011) . According to the philosopher, the body and the mind are distinct because humans can conceive the body without the mind and vice versa ( Velasquez, 2011) . In the event that humans were incapable of making such a perception then the body and the mind would be deemed to be inseparable entities ( Velasquez, 2011) . From an analytical point of view, humans and aliens bear similarities, in that, they have a conscious immaterial mind that is capable of perceiving itself short of the physical body. It is thus clear that the separate nature of the alien mind is a key thing we can know about it.
An additional perspective we can know about the alien mind relates to its advanced nature. Notably, this perspective holds that the alien mind is miles ahead of the human mind, particularly on the technological front. More specifically, this point of view is based on the premise that the aliens live in distant planets which have far more sophisticated technologies than those found on planet earth. Phillip Morrison observes that there is a high possibility that human beings are not the only cognitively astute beings in the far reaches of the universe (Dennett, 2009). According to Dennett (2009), the very possibility that there might be aliens on other planets is quite might boggling. The possibility of life on other planets is predominantly based on impressionistic and probabilistic thinking, in addition to evolution (Dennett, 2009). Case in point flying and locomotion have both undergone evolution several times (Dennett, 2009). Such instances of evolution point to the fact that things that have a probability of happening ultimately happen (Dennett, 2009). The aforementioned premise leads researchers to questions whether evolution opportunities are available in other parts of the universe (Dennett, 2009). According to Dennett (2009), it is possible that in other parts of the universe aliens have undergone evolutionary leaps that are way ahead of those on planet earth. From an analytical point of view, the significant evolutionary leaps that possibly exists on other planets within the far reaches of the universe point to the advanced capabilities of the alien mind. Moreover, the advanced nature of the alien mind is indicative of the significant amount of time that aliens have been in inexistence on other planets. It is thus pretty apparent that, based on the aforementioned perspective, the alien mind is much more advanced than the human mind.
The fifth key perspective about the alien mind is that it will gradually transform to a form similar to that of human beings. Jayarava (2014), posits that science fiction stories and movies ordinarily portray aliens as extraterrestrial as possible, predominantly by turning them into irrational and erratic beings. While the extraterrestrial portrayal of aliens might have some truth to it, the alien mind will one day want to explore other planets in the universe (Jayarava, 2014). According to Jayarava, (2014), the desire to explore other planets will lead them to planet earth where they will arrive in spaceship. Prior to their arrival on planet earth, their minds will harbor divergent perspectives about life and human nature. Nonetheless, the constant interaction between humans and aliens will play a pivotal role in the transformation of the alien mind to a more human-like form. An analysis of the alien mind reveals that the set of circumstances present on other planets ordinarily contribute to the current differences between the alien mind and the human mind. In making a spaceship, for instance, the alien mind encounters a raft of a challenges. One such challenge includes a significantly greater force of gravity which it makes much more difficult to forge iron into a spaceship (Jayarava, 2014). Working on spaceships will also play a pivotal role in quickening the transformation of the alien mind to a form that is similar to that of the human mind. A key aspect of the alien mind that will be bound to undergo transformation includes the part that is responsible for socializing (Jayarava, 2014). It is worth noting that the inculcation of the complex metal working skills that are required to make a spaceship will necessitate aliens to socialize just like humans (Jayarava, 2014). Clearly, alien minds are likely to undergo transformation over time.
The last key perspective about what can be known about the alien mind is that its true nature remains a mystery to humans. From an analytical point of view, the mysterious nature of alien minds makes them difficult to understand. Delancey (2014), asserts that the incomprehensible nature of the alien mind leads humans to view its mysteriousness as a theme that does not necessarily serve their narrative objectives. This explains why the best science fiction stories about incomprehensible aliens are certainly about the inscrutability of their minds (Delancey, 2014). The mysterious nature of the alien minds is further augmented by the intelligence that is often associated with aliens. Evidence of intelligent aliens includes, but not limited to, their ability to respond to danger, to cooperate with their kin, to hatch evil plots against humans, to hunt, to flee, as well as to speak using coded language (Delancey, 2014). The unique body parts linked to aliens also serve to add to the mystery associated with the alien mind. Humans ordinarily discern that the uniqueness of key body parts found on aliens is likely to extend to their minds. Clearly, the mysteriousness of the alien mind is a key perspective we can know about it.
In conclusion, it is evident that while the existence of extraterrestrial aliens is not entirely certain, different perspectives offer insights into what is known about the alien mind. The first key perspective holds that alien minds bears similarities to the mind of cephalopods such as squid, octopuses and cuttlefish. The second key perspective about alien minds is unique, in that, it highlight the vast array of similarities between the alien mind and the human mind.
References
Anderson, D. L. (2008). What is a Person? The Mind Project . https://mind.ilstu.edu/curriculum/what_is_a_person/what_is_a_person.html
Delancey, C. (2014). Another Word: Will Aliens be Alien? Clarkesworld . http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/another_word_01_14/
Dennett, D. (2009). Daniel Dennett Explores Darwinism and Outer Space. Big Think . https://bigthink.com/videos/daniel-dennett-explores-darwinism-and-outer-space
Godfrey-Smith, P. (2017). The Mind of an Octopus. Scientific American . https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-mind-of-an-octopus/
Jayarava, (2014). Why Artificial Intelligences Will Never Be Like Us and Aliens Will Be Just Like Us. Jayavara Raves. http://jayarava.blogspot.com/2014/06/why-artificial-intelligences-will-never.html
Velasquez, M. (2011). What Are Persons and How Do We Track Their Identity Across Time? Wadsworth Publishers.
