[ExI] [Extropolis] Fermi Paradox vs. Copernican Principle?

[John Clark]

On Wed, Jul 22, 2026 at 2:45 PM Stuart LaForge <avant at sollegro.com> wrote:

*> The Copernican principle is a cornerstone of the science that says that
> we are in no way special and instead represent an average and unremarkable
> place within the universe.*


*The Copernican principle is very far from being a cornerstone of science
and is in fact patently false. The average cubic meter of space in the
observable universe is almost a perfect vacuum, it only contains one
hydrogen atom; if you look around you will see that we must be living in a
VERY unusual place. *


>
>
>
> * > The Fermi paradox, on the other hand, seems to strongly imply that we
> are the only life form in the galaxy that is both intelligent enough to
> understand physics and dexterous enough to build technology capable of
> leaving the planet and sending signals to other stars.*


*Yes.*


> *> Obviously, if we are the only technologically sophisticated lifeforms
> in the galaxy, or perhaps even the universe,*


*If there were a civilization that was type 3 on the Kardashev scale
anywhere in the universe then we would've spotted it many decades ago, but
we see nothing. If intelligent life is common in the observable universe
then at least one individual is going to use Nanotechnology to make a Von
Neumann Probe, and that would lead to a type 3 civilization, so I disagree
with Carl Sagan, sometimes the absence of evidence is evidence of absence. *


>
> *> then that means that the Copernican principle is patently false, and
> humanity holds a privileged position as the first technological sapient
> species to evolve in our light cone,*


*Exactly. And that really shouldn't be difficult to believe because the
observable universe is huge but finite, so somebody has to be the first. *

* John K Clark *
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