A Deep Narcism

Human beings are amazing in the ability to imagine, express, process, and emphasize with different realities, usually created by different human beings. Be the format in literature, in painting, in film, or merely an idea in your head. Regardless, we are able to use our brains to create beautiful and complex fictional worlds.

But we're not so good at some things. I mean, can you imagine a new color? In any case, one that particularly peeves me is the whole "aliens" genera of fiction. The most obvious pitfall is when you see aliens that are humanoid or resemble anything living on our own world. I mean, who says that bipedalism (or quadrupedalism) is the best or only way to transport oneself in traditional space over solid terrain? And the thought that all living organisms keep both their central nervous system and most of their major sensory organs on a venerable, extended appendage? Preposterous!

Not to mention that they're carbon based, water necessitating, solid-food consuming creatures. Or that they see in "visible" light. Or that they smell. They tolerate the same approximate temperature range. And goodness knows what else! Some people have gotten far even by my standards, yes, but the fact that most of our media seems dependent on the idea that life that evolved isolated from our biogenetic influence somehow ended up similar to ours shows a deep seated, and often unnoticed, narcism.

Now, in a way, our inability as a people to conceive of something truly and unspeakably new makes the moment when we view another complex organism all the more awe inspiring! The chemistry that it creates, the biology of it as a whole would be mind-blowinly fascinating merely due to the fact that we could not have conceived of it unless we where to actually be beholden to it. And it guarantees that when, if, we do meet life on an exoplanet, humanity as a whole will be amazed. As Shakespeare once said; "There is more on heaven and earth, than is dreamt of in your philosophy."