Does the Great Filter spell doom for humanity?

Much like how we use a sieve to strain or refine liquids and dry ingredients, the Great Filter is a universal sieve with its primary ingredient being actual species, and in our case, humanity.

The Great Filter is the response to a question posed by Nobel Laureate and physicist Enrico Fermi when he pondered about the silence of the universe that we inhabit.

Where is everyone?

A closely related question would be, “Are we alone in the universe?” Fermi wondered how this could be, given the innumerable stars and planets that inhabit our universe. Extra-terrestrial life had to exist, right? Like, that would be a major breakthrough in human history.

To be honest, it would actually be the worst news ever and would doom all of humanity. The paradox of the “Great Silence” Fermi questioned remained unresolved for several years, until a possible explanation was proposed in the Great Filter.

So what exactly does this filter do?

Simply, the Great Filter bars life from reaching a certain level of development. If we are to picture the evolution of a species as a series of rungs on a ladder, the Great Filter is basically like a hammer removing one of the higher level rungs that helps the species advance further up the ladder. Taking the next step up just becomes highly improbable.

When applied to a species, the Great Filter is an obstacle the species just cannot overcome, no matter what, and leads to its inevitable end.

Having said that, what makes a filter? Where is humanity relative to the Great Filter? Have we passed the test or does the Great Filter await us in the future?

Most importantly, will we survive?

To find out the answer, check out my latest work with WatchMojo Unveiled Has Humanity Solved the Great Filter?