Can We Ever Achieve Diplomatic Relations with Aliens Like in Star Wars?

It's a common dream to imagine establishing friendly diplomatic relations with alien species, as we see in the expansive universe of Star Wars. However, achieving such interactions is fraught with challenges that include the sheer probabilities of encountering aliens, the biological differences, technological disparities, and the time it takes to evolve into sentient beings.

Probabilities of Contacting Aliens

Given the vastness of the cosmos, the odds of finding extraterrestrial life are astronomically small. The chance of encountering even a handful of sentient species is even more improbable. Social scientists suggest that the cultural and biological differences between species might render any potential interactions perilous or even destructive. This is reminiscent of historical conflicts, such as the clash between the English and Native Americans in 18th century North America.

Biological Challenges

One of the most significant obstacles in achieving diplomatic relations is the biological differences between species. Microorganisms that are harmless to one species could be extremely lethal to another. For instance, a microbe that is harmless to Jabba or Chewbacca could be lethal to humans, while a simple human cold could wipe out the Hutt or Wookiee species. In the Star Wars galaxy, all races have likely developed immunity over time, but the initial encounters would have been highly traumatic, leading to mass deaths in both species.

Technological Disparities

Another challenge is the technological level of different species. In Star Wars, most species seem to be on a similar technological level, which is highly unrealistic. In reality, one species is very likely to be far more advanced than the others. For instance, the first species to develop interstellar travel would likely encounter species that are still in the stone age. Given the time that has passed on Earth (more than three billion years from the first stirrings of life to the dawn of intelligence), it is improbable that all species in a galaxy would be at the same technological level unless they deliberately encouraged the development of intelligence on other worlds.

Time and Evolution

The time it takes to evolve into sentients is another factor. On Earth, it took more than three billion years for the first sentient beings to emerge. If a species evolves interstellar travel capabilities in a fraction of this time, they would likely encounter species that are still in their primordial stages. This raises the question of whether the more advanced species would take over or encourage the development of intelligence on other worlds, leading to a 2001-esque scenario rather than the Star Wars-esque one.

Despite the challenges, the dream of discovering and interacting with alien life remains a fertile ground for scientific and philosophical exploration. Perhaps with advancements in technology and a better understanding of the universe, we may one day find a way to bridge the gap between species and establish peaceful coexistence.