Further to “More boldly go: Our entire universe is a mere Copernican blip,” I suggested one real reason why the space alien is considered “science” but Bigfoot isn’t: The space alien is wished into existence by methodological naturalism, but Bigfoot isn’t.
That said, one advantage the space alien has over Bigfoot is that it would be much easier to scour the planet and demonstrate (to a reasonable person’s satisfaction) that Bigfoot does not exist than to scour the universe and prove likewise that the space alien does not exist.
But we haven’t scoured either one yet. So the advantage has not yet been made real. In any event, it is only an advantage in a negative sense: No one can disprove the aliens’ existence to a reasonable person’s satisfaction. That hardly explains the strong attachment to the idea, evident in the popular science media.
One must look to methodological naturalism to wish such a being into existence, absent all and any evidence.
Just for the record, if we come to believe that we are all alone, that need not imply theism. Fine tuning does that, not mere loneliness. Our aloneness would not impinge on any theology that does not make the space aliens’ existence or otherwise an article of faith.
As it happens, under the sure guidance of methodological naturalism, we went from explorig a comprehensible cosmos to gaping in amazement before an incomprehensible multiverse. Continuing the series, I will trace how that happened, and what we can do about it. – O’Leary for News
So far:
What has materialism done for science?
Big Bang exterminator wanted, will train
Copernicus, you are not going to believe who is using your name. Or how.
“Behold, countless Earths sail the galaxies … that is, if you would only believe …”
Don’t let Mars fool you. Those exoplanets teem with life!
But surely we can’t conjure an entire advanced civilization?
How do we grapple with the idea that ET might not be out there?
Not only is earth one nice planet among many, but our entire universe is lost in a crowd
See also: Not only is earth one nice planet among many, but our entire universe is lost in a crowd