Quote:
Originally Posted by synaesthetic
We see intelligent life (humans), and it's the only intelligent life we see. But we don't say humans are the only intelligent beings in the universe. We just say they're the only intelligent life we know of, but don't discount the existence of other intelligent beings.
We see organic life (carbon-based, requires water), and it's the only life we see. But apparently, we do say it's the only life in the universe. We don't seem to say that it's the only life we know of (going by what you are saying), and discount the possibility of life that doesn't use carbon or water.
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You're comparing different things there.
We may not say we're the only intelligent life in the universe, but we do have criteria of what makes one an intelligent life.
Similarly, we may not say we're the only living beings, but we do have criteria of what makes one a living being.
But my point is that those criteria may be subject to change given additional evidence.