There is so much science out there that it can be very confusing for the lay person, which is why I sometimes take time out, have a few beers with my fellow lay people, and grapple with some of the more controversial ideas in science.

The following dialogue, about life on other planets, occurred a few nights ago.

“I think it is a little arrogant to say that the Earth is the only planet with intelligent life,” Biff (his name has been changed) said.

“Really?” I probed rhetorically. “I think it is arrogant to assume that intelligent life is the inevitable consequence of biological evolution. Just because intelligence happens to be the adaptive mechanism which gives us humans our Darwinian edge over other species, does that have to happen on other planets too?”

“Well, hmm. I think it does,” replied Biff. “If you just consider the number of other planets that are probably out there, you have to agree that, statistically, intelligent life must occur pretty often.”

“Why do you say that?”

“It just seems like if a hospitable planet is around long enough, eventually some smart and self-aware beings will evolve.”

There was a salient pause for reflection as I poured some more beer.

Finally, I said, “You know, Biff, that is a good point. I have often thought that it might be that the universe has a special attractor toward evolving self-awareness.”

“A what?” Biff queried.

“Sorry. Just a term I got from a book on Chaos theory. Some things, like the red dot on Jupiter … well, it doesn’t matter. Just that it might be that the universe, as we know it, has a tendency toward evolving intelligent species and in doing so the universe itself becomes self-aware. Intelligent species probably are, to use your term, arrogant, but they are the eyes and ears of the universe.”

My rational thoughts were momentarily disrupted by an overwhelming need to osmoregulate.

“That’s the Anthropic Principle,” Biff said, when I returned from the facilities. “The universe must be the way it is in order for us to observe the way it is. It’s a very circular logic.”

“Ahh!” I exclaimed. “My friend, you have hit the nail on the head.”

“It’s like the difference between whether the glass is half full or half empty.”

I took the hint and ordered another pitcher. Just a couple of lay men getting mellow with some pop science.