I wonder, we know that we exist here and call ourselves intelligent. But if we didn't have us how probable would the existence of intelligence seem in the Universe (to a "non-intelligent" observer, e.g a god that in no way interferes otherwise with this Universe)?
We could have been knocked out before evolving intelligence (and it can still happen). What would the estimates look like if we didn't have us and our planet to rely on as an example that definitely has intelligence?
Or, can we conclude based on a single observance (ourselves), that intelligence as we know it is a physical necessity that must evolve given self-replication of molecules, suitable conditions and sufficient time? Or could we be a one-time anomaly?
Or, aren't there an infinite number of ways how our intelligence could have developed (and industrial and infotechnological revolution being just one)? Physics (modern science) in a way applies universally, but then it could be argued to be just an abstraction - one possible intelligent attitude towards the surroundings out of infinite possibilities? Aren't there infinite development paths that intelligence could take which would never lead to the idea and possibility to leave the planet? (Why would any intelligent race really want to do that?)
