A Review of the Theoretical and Empirical Foundations of SETI

José Antonio Molina

2024.77.0272

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59332/jbis-077-08-0272

The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) is sometimes perceived as a futile activity carried out by a few dreamers. However, since its beginnings SETI has had the support of eminent scientists and its theoretical and empirical foundations are solid. Indeed, SETI starts with an evidence: intelligence exists in the universe because we exist. Since intelligence is a natural phenomenon, it is more likely that we are a particular sample of it rather than the only sample in the entire universe. On the other hand, we know that intelligence can become a remotely detectable astronomical phenomenon, because we are. Consequently, SETI is searching for natural phenomena that we know are possible, so all criticisms about the lack of scientific validity of SETI are wrong. Also, the attention that a scientific project deserves should not be measured based on its chances of success, but by the importance of its consequences for humankind.

Keywords: SETI, Technosignature