Would an extraterrestrial being care about humans and the Earth? Plenty of people would care about extraterrestrials, but just because we care, is it correct to assume that an extraterristrial species would too? Is this an egocentric idea, that we must matter to beings elsewhere? It is interesting to think that contact with another species would benefit us. Perhaps we would learn from them if they are more scientifically advanced, but it is just as easy to imagine a scenario where the extraterrestrials are aggressive or selfish. After all, if one human race tried their best to annihilate another human race upon landing on the shores of North America, is it unreasonable to expect the same to occur between two entirely different species?

I read one of the best science fiction trilogies last year, The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin, where the human race finally realizes the truth of the universe, a truth that most advanced civilizations understand and live by. To let other extraterrestrial civilizations know that we exist is suicide. When communication is difficult (as it ought to be when two civilizations are light years apart, having developed in completely different environments), when we do not understand how the other thinks or what they value, and in a situation where the other civilization may have enough technology to devastate our civilization, it is much safer to open fire and destroy the other before they have a chance to destroy you. This truth is based on two axioms. The first is that the goal of any civilization is ultimately survival. The second is that civilizations grow, but resources in the universe are finite. Thus,

[t]he universe is a dark forest. Every civilization is an armed hunter stalking through the trees like a ghost, gently pushing aside branches that block the path and trying to tread without sound. Even breathing is done with care. The hunter has to be careful because everywhere in the forest are stealthy hunters like him. If he finds another life — another hunter, angel, or a demon, a delicate infant to tottering old man, a fairy or demigod — there’s only one thing he can do: open fire and eliminate them (Liu, 2015)

before they have the opportunity to eliminate you. So this Golden Record project, which can be sampled and dated for age, and given its velocity, trajectory, and the celestial objects that it has likely passed by, can be traced back to Earth. This project might have been our civilization’s greatest folly!

The project’s purpose seems to be to serve as evidence that we existed. It is not so much a communiqué as it is a glorified tombstone. This record of information is about preservation. The construction materials chosen were specifically selected to endure for millions of years. If the goal was to establish communication with another being, then more attention would be paid to the message and the modes of communication. Instead, the record attempts to depict diversity as best as it can. If this is the goal, then the criteria to select just 10 songs to be on the album is simply that the songs be as different as possible. There should be instrumental songs with as many different instruments as possible and vocal songs. The tempos, pitches, rhythms, and moods (I find it silly that we chose “joyful” music when we do not even know if extraterrestrials know what joy is or represent it the same way that we do) should also be different in each. The complexity of the notes, that is, the progression and pattern of notes should range from simple to the very complex. The range of the songs should vary from small to multiple octaves.

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1. Tchakrulo – Choir – Georgia

• Male voice, multiple layers of harmony, mild tempo

2. Tchenhoukoumen, percussion Senegal

• Instrumental, percussion, rhythmic, quick tempo

3. Bach, Brandenburg no 2, part 1

• Instrumental, strings, wind, complex note progression that is very mathematical

4. El Cascabel-Lorenzo Barcelata&the Mari

• Strings, wind, male voice, very fast tempo

5. Fairie Round – cond David Munroe

• Wind only, medium tempo

6. Iziel je Delyo Hagdutin – Bulgaria

• Horn, wind, female voice, slow tempo, not a lot of different notes – small range

7. Johnny B Goode – Chuck Berry

• Piano, strings, percussion, male voice, upbeat

8. Melancholy Blues-L Armstrong&HisHotSeven

• Percussion, wind, horn, strings, mild tempo

9. Sacrificial dance-comp&cond Stravinsky

• Strings, wind, percussion, jarring mood

10. Mozart – Queen of the night- Eda Moser

• Female opera voice, strings, medium tempo

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In thinking about the question posed by Dr. Smith Rumsey, “What can we afford to lose” (Brown University, 2017), I cannot come up with an answer. According to her, the value of a piece of information cannot be determined at present, but only in the future in retrospect (Brown University, 2017). Is any of the information on the Golden Record of value to extraterrestrials millions of years from now? Perhaps what would be of value is the information about resources and habitable environments if we are to believe the axiom that all civilizations strive to survive. I do, however, note what we have conveniently left out of the record, and that is anything perceived as negative or dangerous about us. There is no mention of our violent nature or our war rich history. Was this wise? From our perspective, this may have been the most valuable piece of information to send if we are to believe the Dark Forest theory. Perhaps it is better to appear dangerous so that we warn other civilizations to stay away, that we are capable of defending ourselves if attacked.

 

Brown University. (2017). Abby Smith Rumsey: “Digital Memory: What Can We Afford to Lose?”

Liu, C., & Martinsen, J. (2015). The dark forest. First edition. New York: Tor.