How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Discuss morality and ethics in this message board.
Featured Article: Philosophical Analysis of Abortion, The Right to Life, and Murder
Post Reply
Alias
Posts: 3119
Joined: November 26th, 2011, 8:10 pm
Favorite Philosopher: Terry Pratchett

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by Alias »

I might consider being a benign sort of god.
With manifestations of my power in plain sight, they'd abandon all previous gods and wouldn't invent any more.
I could make a single commandment: Do so as to facilitate happiness and diminish suffering for all living things, to the best of your ability.
I'd go "Ahem!" in a big thunderous voice whenever they start hurting one another or the environment.
Once they'd got into the habit of living positively, I could go home.
User avatar
h_k_s
Posts: 1243
Joined: November 25th, 2018, 12:09 pm
Favorite Philosopher: Aristotle
Location: Rocky Mountains

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by h_k_s »

Thrylix wrote: December 7th, 2018, 11:18 pm
h_k_s wrote: December 7th, 2018, 10:48 pm I liked the bugs thread more.
I liked rhat thread too and we had good dialogue. But the thread was years old. Also some people got miffed from it. :P
Most people don't perceive their own psychopathic tendencies which are triggered by insects in general.

They think all insects are bad and that they should all be killed.

But insects are valuable creatures which support the entire food chain.

Anyone's personal philosophy should include respect for insects.

So it was a great thread !!
User avatar
Papus79
Posts: 1798
Joined: February 19th, 2017, 6:59 pm

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by Papus79 »

Sounds rough, being a cultural idiot overseeing the fate of millions or more, and I'm not sure I'd want it.

First thing I'd worry about is whether I had a position that gave me that power and who else might want to do what in order to take it. It would clearly put that race in a very compromised position and it doesn't seem like a position that you'd want to have exist for particularly long anywhere.

As I know myself now - if I did have it and decided to do anything with it I'd probably try and see if they had any projects that needed to be completed, of the variety that needs some degree of central planning like sewage systems or major infrastructure, I might try to help establish a stable marketplace of ideas or work to make the one they have more cohesive, past that once I'd taken care of any specific large scale issues that couldn't be resolved on a local level I'd probably want to dissolve the office and simply leave some sort of parliament or congress in my place (if they didn't already have it). I think a person can be a benevolent dictator for a bit but if the office can outlive them there's next to no guarantee that the person after them would be anything of the sort.
Humbly watching Youtube in Universe 25. - Me
User avatar
Mark1955
Posts: 739
Joined: July 21st, 2015, 4:02 am
Favorite Philosopher: David Hume
Location: Nottingham, England.

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by Mark1955 »

Benign neglect or 'leave them to get on with it by themselves'.
If you think you know the answer you probably don't understand the question.
User avatar
UniversalAlien
Posts: 1578
Joined: March 20th, 2012, 9:37 pm
Contact:

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by UniversalAlien »

The Philosophy Of Star Trek: Is The Prime Directive Ethical?

Within the Star Trek universe, the Prime Directive is a crucial regulation that is binding on Starfleet personnel. How well does it work as an ethical rule?

The Prime Directive (officially Starfleet Order 1) is a prohibition on interference with the other cultures and civilizations representatives of Starfleet encounter in their exploration of the universe. In particular, the Prime Directive is aimed at preventing interference with the internal development of civilizations that are less technologically advanced. The executive summary of the order given in the 1968 episode “Bread and Circuses” is:

no identification of self or mission; no interference with the social development of said planet; no references to space, other worlds, or advanced civilizations.

Even though Starfleet officers take an oath to uphold the Prime Directive even if it means sacrificing their own lives or the lives of their crews, as practiced, across several episodes of the various Star Trek series, it was not inviolable. Captain James T. Kirk seemed to violate it with some regularity, and sticklers for Starfleet regulations could go into detail about circumstances in which strict adherence to the Prime Directive is not required.

That said, how does the Prime Directive fare as a general approach to the ethics of sharing a universe?


Quore source:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetstemw ... d1ef4d2177




"SCIENCEFICTIONALISM the Way of the FUTURE"
http://universalspacealienpeoplesassoci ... uture.html
User avatar
Thrylix
Posts: 70
Joined: January 11th, 2014, 2:42 am

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by Thrylix »

The prime directive is boring. :P

At the risk of sounding hubristic, interfering would be way more fun than watching a tiny civilization develop naturally. Why let them have self-determination, if through sheer force, I could force them to engineer their society in my own image? I'd flatten any structure that didn't at least in some small way idolize me.
User avatar
UniversalAlien
Posts: 1578
Joined: March 20th, 2012, 9:37 pm
Contact:

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by UniversalAlien »

Thrylix wrote: December 13th, 2018, 1:54 am The prime directive is boring. :P

At the risk of sounding hubristic, interfering would be way more fun than watching a tiny civilization develop naturally. Why let them have self-determination, if through sheer force, I could force them to engineer their society in my own image? I'd flatten any structure that didn't at least in some small way idolize me.
WOW !!! - 'Thrylix the Great', King of the World?

When will they ever learn :?: - When will they ever learn :?:

“Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.”
― Denis Diderot
User avatar
Burning ghost
Posts: 3065
Joined: February 27th, 2016, 3:10 am

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by Burning ghost »

Thrylix wrote: December 13th, 2018, 1:54 am The prime directive is boring. :P

At the risk of sounding hubristic, interfering would be way more fun than watching a tiny civilization develop naturally. Why let them have self-determination, if through sheer force, I could force them to engineer their society in my own image? I'd flatten any structure that didn't at least in some small way idolize me.
You could also get them to march up and down your shaft until you ejaculate :twisted: I wonder if they’d then adopt your spermatozoa as sacred pets?
AKA badgerjelly
User avatar
Thrylix
Posts: 70
Joined: January 11th, 2014, 2:42 am

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by Thrylix »

Hmm, I think I'd enjoy that quite a bit, hehe. Gives me other ideas...

The other method of discipline I had in mind was to force the dissenters to rake up my foot crud that accumulates between my toes. At that scale they may want gas-masks or haz-mat suits for that task, but I don't think I'd allow any protective gear while on toejam duty. The toil and suffering is a necessary part of the punishment. :twisted:
User avatar
LuckyR
Moderator
Posts: 7935
Joined: January 18th, 2015, 1:16 am

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by LuckyR »

What drives the desire for interaction with inferiors? Clearly the ability to win consistently. Which if one already routinely wins amongst one's peers looks hollow and lame. However, if one doesn't typically have that experience could be the best game in town.
"As usual... it depends."
User avatar
UniversalAlien
Posts: 1578
Joined: March 20th, 2012, 9:37 pm
Contact:

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by UniversalAlien »

How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

No species will give you power over them - But because most species, such as Humans, have weak minds,
the takeover is fairly simple.

With Humans we first created gods for them to believe in and worship - And while no evidence for these
gods ever existed - Man has such a weak mind so that he began to fantasize the reality of super beings
that never existed - And the rest is history - We had and still have complete control.

Wars that have developed ever since are conducted as sport and we take bets on who will win.

This may sound cruel to Humans but if your species is so stupid so as to believe itself worthy of its
righteous insanity - then it is hard for us to shed tears for such an inferior race.

Of course, and as a matter of complete control, which we maintain, most often you are never aware that you
are under the control of aliens.

Take the United States for example - We have your country divided into two political parties that must
keep fighting with each other and have the people there always at odds with each other.

Meantime we keep breeding Humans as slaves and warriors - so that in the event we come across hostile
cultures in other parts of the galaxy they will be able to be used for combat and also to operate our
machines when building structures is required.

And now Human you know - You are needed after all - But as far as your species 'having power over
an alien civilization' - Forget it! - You yourselves are, and have been, under the control of an
alien civilization and your species is so inferior that they can't even realize it :!:

So Humans just keep fighting each other - And take comfort in the fact that the warriors and war
machines you are creating might one day be used by the overlords that rule you :)
User avatar
Thrylix
Posts: 70
Joined: January 11th, 2014, 2:42 am

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by Thrylix »

I still can't follow what you're saying all the time. Are you role-playing as some kind of extraterrestrial or do you actually believe yourself to be one..?
User avatar
Sy Borg
Site Admin
Posts: 14997
Joined: December 16th, 2013, 9:05 pm

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by Sy Borg »

Thrylix wrote: December 13th, 2018, 9:45 am Hmm, I think I'd enjoy that quite a bit, hehe. Gives me other ideas...

The other method of discipline I had in mind was to force the dissenters to rake up my foot crud that accumulates between my toes. At that scale they may want gas-masks or haz-mat suits for that task, but I don't think I'd allow any protective gear while on toejam duty. The toil and suffering is a necessary part of the punishment. :twisted:
If you wanted to be especially harsh you could tease your v̶i̶c̶t̶i̶m̶s̶ citizens by saying slightly outrageous things and trying to provoke a reaction from them. Looking at the US today it would seem that trolling your own people is now a respected activity for leaders.

More seriously, the golden rule applies here.
Jklint
Posts: 1719
Joined: February 23rd, 2012, 3:06 am

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by Jklint »

In our case, by completely avoiding the use of it. Absolute power has seldom been used constructively. Humans have demonstrated that the opposite is true. Absolute power can only be positive when controlled by a supremely refined civilization. We've never had any and likely never will. Whenever held, it only served to demean absolutely those who had it. The ability to use such power signifies the extent of advancement in any civilization whether ours or an alien one, "ours" seemingly becoming more alien every day.
User avatar
Papus79
Posts: 1798
Joined: February 19th, 2017, 6:59 pm

Re: How would you act if given absolute power over an alien civilization?

Post by Papus79 »

Jklint wrote: December 14th, 2018, 5:42 pm In our case, by completely avoiding the use of it. Absolute power has seldom been used constructively. Humans have demonstrated that the opposite is true. Absolute power can only be positive when controlled by a supremely refined civilization. We've never had any and likely never will. Whenever held, it only served to demean absolutely those who had it. The ability to use such power signifies the extent of advancement in any civilization whether ours or an alien one, "ours" seemingly becoming more alien every day.
This is also why I'd worry, if we ever did contact an advanced alien species, that it's quite a credible concern that we'd be a global version of the Belgian Congo within a decade.
Humbly watching Youtube in Universe 25. - Me
Post Reply

Return to “Ethics and Morality”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021