Fermi Paradox: The Prime Directive

One solution to the Fermi Paradox, the big question of where all the aliens are, is that extraterrestrials might hide from us to avoid altering our society, a concept we see in Star Trek called the Prime Directive. Is such a policy ethical, and if so, should we follow it?

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Credits:
The Fermi Paradox: The Prime Directive
Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur
Episode 264a; November 15, 2020
Written, Produced & Narrated by Isaac Arthur

Written by:
Isaac Arthur

Editors:
Darius Said
Jerry Guern
Keith Blockus

Cover Art:

Graphics:

[tavdy]

One correction about the Borg: they don't want to assimilate *everyone*. They have standards which not all species meet. Specifically, some species are considered unworthy of assimilation because their biology and technology would detract from the Borg's quest to achieve their concept of "perfection". The Kazon are the only one we're told about, but there are presumably others.

[poe_slaw]

attention aliens: we have had enough of this “figuring it out for ourselves”. can you please come down and show us how cold fusion works?

[aurex]

One of the main issues of the prime directive is that either every single independent power agrees to it and actively enforces it, or the ones who came up with it have to enforce it with strength. There's really no reason for, let's say, the Ferengi Alliance not to exploit pre-warp species, especially if their planet has something they want.
Another issue is, how would you apply it to a species that managed to build non-FTL, generational ships and had sensors sophisticated enough to receive and decode FTL transmissions, thus being aware of the galaxy being a busy place?

[Sciencerely]

As a biologist, I think that looking at life on earth might help us to understand how life on other planets could look like. All life forms on earth contain cells in order to overcome the second law of thermodynamics which states that everything in the universe becomes more unordered over time (and life is highly ordered). However, the simple fact that cells have membranes and highly complex biochemical reactions helps to overcome this issue. Moreover, life always contains a stable molecule as a storage device (such as DNA), reproduce and undergo evolution (I just made a video about life on earth and other planets). Other life forms should theoretically also contain cells, a storage molecule, reproduce and change over time!

[gopolanglekoto]

@7:30 "It is entirely possible our whole Oort Cloud is one big swarm of mines and anti-ship batteries". Damn! Now I'll never think the same about the Oort Cloud ever again😱💣 #mindblown

[JJ-iope]

The only way the Prime Directive could ever work would be with FTL travel. Otherwise, all the issues arise with maintaining a coherent civilization/society over large parts of a galaxy let alone chunks of the universe. Imagine a small group of aliens giving us the knowledge/technology to end scarcity, cure all diseases, and never die. We would see them as the greatest heroes in history. Then a couple centuries later more of their species show up to punish our saviors for helping us. The only viable option would be to have an armada at every solar system that may develop life to prevent any ships from approaching and this assuming that none of the armadas have cultural/ideological drift over millions of years.

[TGBurgerGaming]

Legend has it the tentacled faced monster in Isaac's videos is still trying to find the right beaker.

[FirstRisingSouI]

A note on morality: it is possible to deeply believe in moral values, hold others accountable to them, set up society around them, and fight those who impinge upon them, while also believing your moral views are subjective.

[KnighteMinistriez]

I usually image that the solution to the Fermi Paradox is that we are the first born. We are the first intelligent life in the universe and that all extraterrestrial life is less advanced than us, so less advanced that we would consider them to be wild animals. This is assuming that there are animals on other planets, because it could be that all extraterrestrial life is nothing more than plant life or bacteria. Why does life on other planets have to evolve like life here did? Why does life on other planets have to evolve to the point of becoming intelligent enough to build technology of any kind? Why does life on other planets have to evolve beyond plants or beyond bacteria? Why can't we be the first of our kind of life in the universe? This type of solution to the Fermi Paradox is a solution that is very friendly to a religious viewpoint. In fact, the objective right and wrong could exist in a religion we already know of. So remember that.

Great video, keep up the good work. God bless.
sincerely a nerdy Christian.

[jerrysstories]

The Prime Directive is my go-to excuse for being an introvert.

[humiecrusher]

You know, the prime directive doesn't necessarily have an ethical motivation. Some of the worst attempts at the trope seem less like a moral dilemma and more like some advanced civilization "farming" less advanced civilizations for culture/innovation.

[corywilliams]

In the ST:TOS epiode "For The World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky", the generation ship built into the asteroid was called Yonada. The people inhabiting the generation ship were actually called the Fabrini.

[nonofyabeeswax]

How to enforce quarantine in a region of the universe without supervision:
Limit the maximum speed to under natural expansion of space. (Or you have to create spacial expansion that's faster than the maximum possible speed)
None can get in, none can get out. Those who try get "stuck".

"Who's interfering? We're just taking over" ---Captain Kirk "A piece of the action"

[Ryan-eukp]

10 years of YouTube and I have found my favourite content creator. This is an amazing chanel, fantastic work!! Thankyou.

[TzarBomb]

9:15 As sad as it may be, morality IS a matter of perspective (cultural bias, laws, etc.), there is NO absolute right and wrong. Evil and good are social constructs.

[j.al.p.]

18:04 to 20:13 is the most awesome and savage segment I've ever seen on this channel.

[Edario]

Damn it Jim, you just stunted our ride!

[ViorelMocanu]

You're one of the few people who manages to structure and focus my imagination in this area, Isaac. Keep up the fantastic work!

[JohnJohansen]

For the time being, I'm still a believer in the rare Earth theory.