The concept of Great Filters are one solution to the Fermi Paradox in which the absence of observable life is explained by the existence of a number of thresholds life must to cross in order to become an interstellar civilization. Essentially, Great Filters simultaneously allow us to explain why it is that we’re here, and why it is that we see no one else. As it stands, we are advanced enough that we could conceive of perpetuating our civilization indefinitely in the near future. Why do we see no one else doing so?
This paradox can be explained by the presence of a Great Filter either before or after our current epoch, and both cases have powerful implications for humanity as a whole.
If this is true what does it mean?
As a species, it is clear we are past the “filters” of things like cooperation or tool-use (or industrialization, depending on how granular you’re trying to make your metaphorical filters here). We’re currently working our way through the filter of having the capacity to destroy ourselves with nuclear weapons. We’re approaching filters like actually deciding to expand to other worlds, not destabilizing our planets chemical cycles with our newfound industrial capacity, and having the capacity to destroy ourselves with antimatter weapons.
Any of these may be the big one.
Given this, there are two possible scenarios, depending on if the Great Filters preventing other civilizations from existing are behind us, and each hypothetical holds great significance for meaning making.
We may be the first to make it this far. In this case, the hardest filters are behind us and we carry the torch for all life the last few meters to safety. The impact that we would have on the fate of life in the universe by simply not making any unforced errors this close to becoming a stable interstellar species could imbue any daily task contributing towards this goal with cosmic purpose.
If its common for life to make it to the point we’re at, and yet we still see none, then that’s a grim forecast for us as a prospective interstellar species. More likely, the filter that has defeated every civilization before us is on our horizon. So time to gear up. We’re about to have a civilization ending threat sometime soon. We need to mobilize.
