Abstract

This paper explores whether extraterrestrial or other forms of cognition and morality that are unobservable and incomprehensible to humans constitute an existential risk (X-risk) or an existential opportunity (X-opportunity) for humanity. It is being argued that the human epistemological apparatus is fundamentally limited, rendering certain forms of life—both extraterrestrial and potentially terrestrial—imperceptible and incomprehensible (which is also a novel solution to the Fermi paradox that we propose). By integrating philosophical reasoning with empirical insights from (astro)biology, the paper examines the potential implications of interacting with such entities. It will be concluded that extra-terrestrial or other sentient forms of cognition and morality could represent both a risk and an opportunity, with the likelihood of a favorable outcome increasing in correlation with scientific progress and cognitive and moral enhancement of humanity.