images  and  thoughts

When we pose the question "is there a life somewhere else in the Universe?", we reveal our prejudice on how special our world is. Why not "is there a reason for life not to exist somewhere else in the Universe"? Does technical advance of our civilization for the last twenty five centuries justify our prejudice?

There are worlds infinite in number and different in size. In some there is neither sun nor moon, in others there are more than one sun and moon. The distance between the worlds are unequal, in some directions there are more of them... Their destruction comes about through collision with one another. Some worlds are destitute of animal and plant life and of all moisture.

Democritus (450--? BC), as cited in G.S. Kirk and J.E. Raven: The presocratic philosophers: a critical history with a selection of texts, Cambridge University Press, 1957.

First snow at Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

Democritus contemplated that some worlds

are without life.