[dangoldin]

I've thought about this issue in the past and have a similar view to the author's, forgive me if it's a little bit childish:

I believe that in order to develop space technology a species(let's call it that) has to be technologically advanced but in order to be technologically advanced the specieshas to be innovative and competitive.

But competition is the trait that can cause conflict and wars so any species that has the capability to colonize foreign worlds also has the ability to annihilate itself.

Thus I have this idea that every species that has been able to get this technology has killed itself off. It's a morbid view but just an idea that I have.

What I like to think is that we are getting more and more in line with nature and less and less pugnacious so at one point maybe we'll get along with the world - hopefully these advanced aliens have reached that point.

[mdakin]

Surely the path towards becoming technologically advanced also requires cooperation in addition to competition. These two processes tend to hold one another in balance nicely and yield results. I don't see any clear evidence that suggests one or the other of those two processes will "win out" long term. But if anything it seems humans have become more cooperative over time in step with our technological advancement.

Assuming "competition" and ONLY the negative consequences of the competitive process somehow trump all else, in particular cooperation, is depressing, counterproductive and inconsistent with what I've seen in my own life.