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• Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life

  Tags: Alien, LIFE, Lonely, Natural, Philosophy, Planets
  Posted in Mayan on June 27th, 2010 by RoswellUFOs.com

  

  Product Description
  An anecdotal exploration of the possibility of extraterrestrial life by a NASA advisor draws on scientific data, historical records, and folklore to offer insight into humanity's ability to comprehend life on other planets, the field of astrobiology, and the philosophical and scientific significanceAmazon.com Review
  In Lonely Planets, astronomer David Grinspoon is buoyantly optimistic about the possibility that we are not alone in the universe. Grinspoon, … More >>

  Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life

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5 Responses to “Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life”

1. Anonymous Says:
   June 27th, 2010 at 10:21 am

   I first read about "Lonely Planets" through a Kirkus review, then came to the Amazon website to check out other reviews. The supposedly broad view that Grinspoon was to have brought to his topic was a little narrower than I had hoped.

   It appears as if the serious study of extraterrestrial life has been firmly divided into two camps. There are those (including scientists like Grinspoon), who choose to belittle UFO phenomena as it is culturally expressing itself today "on earth" without much deep thought and reflection. They give it a passing nod, in order to appear open-minded, but indeed subtley denigrate those in the other camp and minimize the impact of the vast amount of already-gathered evidence – perhaps fearful of losing standing in the scientific community, or perhaps in fear of discovering the real truth.

   The other camp includes scientists, astronomers, physicians, military personal, pilots and regular people. Some have risked their careers and personal reputations because they have come forward with evidence of extraterrestrial activity on or near out planet. Unfortunately, the individuals in this camp are deemed flaky, or speculative, or non-scientific, and are dismissed and often derided by the mainstream science and academic communities.

   My disappointment in this book is that it didn't bring together these two camps in the way I hoped it would, given the reviews that I read. Camp "2" was treated condescendingly. I take issue with the author's treatment of Dr. Steven Greer's Disclosure Project and urge anyone with even a passing interest in UFO phenomena to view the testimony presented at the May 2001 National Press Club Conference. In a court of law, testimony is treated as evidence. In science, observed phenomena are treated as real, particularly when what is observed is confirmed by many observers.

   Aside from my above concerns, I agree that Grinspoon is a lively, engaging writer. But please, please: if you are serious about the reality of the existence of extraterrestrial phenomena, do not let this book be the final word. Read Harvard psychiatrist John Mack or history professor David Jacobs or nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman or astronomer J. Allen Hyneck yourself and THEN form your opinion.
   Rating: 2 / 5

2. Dorion Sagan Says:
   June 27th, 2010 at 12:41 pm

   I hate to say it but I did not write the original review under my name. David sent me a copy of his book (which he signed with a picture of a bug-eyed alien smoking a joint) and it's a fine (if somewhat chatty) missive to the human species regarding all the latest thinking on ETs, from Roswell to Ball's Zoo hypothesis that we are being watched, perhaps by nearby probes, at close range. Originally I was piqued that he would write, in proofs at least, and without explanation, that my books were "infuriating"; maybe it was because of comments that played down exobiology (now called astrobiology) as a "science without a subject" and "the search for religion in a secular age." Nonetheless, nonequilibrium thermodynamics suggests that, energetically, more intelligent beings would naturally be more likely to tap into available energy stores, suggesting an increased likelihood for the evolution of intelligence where and when life evolves (this contradicts both Richard Dawkins and Stephen Jay Gould's ideas that intelligence's evolution is essentially stochastic). Perhaps Dave is right not to dismiss (despite Michael Persinger's sensed presence transcranial stimulation experiments) some of the more popular alien abduction reports out of hand. My dad did this and all I can think is that his televised image, long since blasted beyond Alpha Centauri at the speed of light, has somehow triggered alien counter-intelligence to assume my identity as part of a disinformation campaign to dissuade authoritative new pronouncements of the increased likelihood of extraterrestrial intelligence. Don't believe it. I'm having Amazon look into it. In the meantime, I disavow the usurpers' (be they human or alien) cowardly tactics of assuming my identity and posting negative reviews on Amazon. I thus urge you to purchase and read Dr. Grinspoon's wake up call to Earthlings, which I certainly hope will *not* be confined, in the words of our review-usurping if electromagnetically advanced neighbors, to "the pantheon of oblivion." This last incident has persuaded me more than ever that we are being watched, and even toyed with, not by a distant entity but by what P.K. Dick called the Zebra–an alien consciousness overlapping and disguising itself among the "kipple" (detritus) of everyday reality. As psychotherapist Karen Horney says, "[U]nder periods of inner stress…a person may become alienated [note that word] from his real self. He will then shift the major part of his energies to the task of molding himself, by a rigid system of inner dictates, into a being of absolute perfection….the drive for excelling may be relegated to fantasy, and the need for a vindictive triumph then manifests itself mainly in often irresistible, mostly unconscious impulses to frustrate, outwit, or defeat others in personal relations." The aliens are a lot closer than many people think.
   Rating: 4 / 5

3. Cosmoetica Says:
   June 27th, 2010 at 3:09 pm

   The book is at its best when it takes a long deep look into the things that are knowable, such as the history of this field, and the passages on Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle's classic book, Entretiens Sur La Pluralité Des Mondes (Conversations On The Plurality Of Worlds), one of the first science books specifically aimed at a mass audience by not being written in Latin, but in French. The book also shines when taking a look at attempts to fabricate life, from the Miller-Urey experiments on. When he is on familiar turf, Grinspoon is practically giddy and this makes for a light and fun read. The only times the book bogs down is when he delves too deeply into scientific minutia (mostly in the book's second section) that, while important to the overall theme of the book, takes the reader away from the proverbial `larger picture,' and gives a bit too much credence to certain fringe ideas, like James Lovelock's and Lynn Margulis's Gaia Hypothesis, while being a little too dismissive of other fringe ideas, such as UFO enthusiasts' arguments in favor of their cause, because he simply plays right into their paranoia about `respectable' scientists all being co-opted by some black ops scheme. Grinspoon might do well to heed his own admonition about `the gaps in our data may be filled by our desires, by the power of suggestion, and by the undeniable force of consensus in forming opinions.' Another slight distraction in the book is when Grinspoon writes of a famous astronaut who seems to buy into the UFO true believers' claims, and is deemed a bit loopy by Grinspoon and others. I don't know if he was threatened with a lawsuit, or not, but it's obvious from the context that Grinspoon is referring to Edgar Mitchell, the Apollo 14 astronaut. The reason for the oddity is that Mitchell has always been up front and publicly open about his belief in the paranormal, so anything that Grinspoon could state would not be taken as defamatory in the least. Grinspoon even manages to work the offbeat old Soviet quasi-religious idea of cosmism into the mix; not to mention the equally dubious idea of scientism.

   Having noted all these factors, it should not be in the least bit surprising that the book's subtitle is called The Natural Philosophy Of Alien Life. Natural philosopher, after all, was what most of the pre-Industrial revolution era scientists were called in their day. It has only been since the onset of scientific modernism that science fully branched off from philosophy, into the realm of the testable, and the ascendance of the scientific method, doubtlessly the greatest invention in the history of mankind. And with this invention, Grinspoon examines the possible abodes for life with a scalpel- from the Jovian moons Europa and Io, to Mars and Venus- which he actually thinks has a good chance for life in its clouds, even to the more speculative idea of life on extrasolar planets. He also pores over older ideas like panspermia, and the more controversial idea of directed panspermia (sort of the alien lovers' equivalent of Intelligent Design). Grinspoon also does a good job with selecting epigraphs for each of his chapters, such as philosopher Bertrand Russell's witty quote that, `When one admits that nothing is certain one must, I think, also add that some things are more nearly certain than others,' although he slathers it on a wee bit thick, as each chapter has two epigraphs where one or none may have sufficed.

   Despite these minor indulgences, the overall tone of the book is a surprisingly self-effacing one for a man whose life is science, and this is a very good thing. The reason is that all too often scientists appear to the unwashed masses as priests of their own new cult. Instead of actively seeking to engage young minds with the wonder of nature, and the demonstrable rectitude of their ideas, they often try to shame and bully people who know no better into accepting what they say, thus becoming the enemy they chose not so well. Grinspoon, however, shows that he wears no such robes, and that Lonely Planets is a book that will have relevance even after all its science is long outdated.
   Rating: 4 / 5

4. B. A Varkentine Says:
   June 27th, 2010 at 4:49 pm

   I believe that Lonely Planets reflects the very latest in scientific thinking on extraterrestrial life, but then how would I know? Science and math are not my strong suits. What I do know is that it's a lively, intelligent story of nine little planets (give or take) and how they grew.

   Civil and respectful to those whose beliefs he disputes, Grinspoon offers history, science and belief in three separate sections but unifies them nicely. He maintains a cautious optimism for the possibility that we may one day see advanced life-forms from other planets, while raising the question (among many others) of how much can we possibly know to expect from such ET life?

   The scope of the book is fittingly staggering, from the big bang first night to the closing down of the solar system in the next millenium. I learned many new things–things that are new to me, at least, but again, science is not my field. Though it might have been if Grinspoon had been my teacher. The tone throughtout is like the science teacher you always wished you had; seriously fun, seriously fascinated in a way that conveys and communicates itself to you.

   I'll close by saying this is the best popular science book I have ever read. But that's not saying a lot. Although, it's not saying a little either.
   Rating: 4 / 5

5. Mark Stevens Says:
   June 27th, 2010 at 4:50 pm

   Grinspoon is a terrific tour guide to the universe — he's part Everyman and part Einstein. You'll remember details from this book months and years later just because of the vivid manner in which he presents information. A must read for anyone who enjoys thinking about space, the universe and "what's out there" — or not.
   Rating: 5 / 5

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