The interviews—but primarily the reading—got me thinking about how the discovery of extraterrestrial life could reshape our sense of identity and our place in the universe. Johnson’s point about how limited and Earth-centered our definitions of life are made me wonder how we would respond emotionally and culturally to life that looks or behaves nothing like us. Would we be excited, scared, or in denial? Could it perhaps even inspire awe?
This is a difficult question for me to answer, but I’d love to explore it further in class. Much of our science, religion, and daily lives are built on the assumption that we are unique. Discovering that we aren’t alone could be deeply unsettling. Personally, I would still rather know. I believe that if extraterrestrial beings exist, the risks they pose would be present whether we know about them or not—so it’s better to be informed and prepared. And thinking more optimistically, we could learn a great deal from them.