When it comes to thinking of extraterrestrial lifeforms and what they could look like (and indeed, BE like), I REALLY enjoy letting my imagination run TRULY wild. :cool: For quite a while, I've felt quite bored with all the abduction accounts where the abductees describe their ET abductors as being 'humanoid' creatures (ie. Nordics, Draconians, Greys etc.). I find it VERY curious how similar these creatures are to us in terms of their anatomical designs (in terms of having two 'eyes', two 'arms', two 'legs' etc.)... but that led me to believe that PERHAPS it is actually US who look similar to THEM? What I'm trying to say is that perhaps their species' originated BEFORE ours did? Maybe the usual egocentric thinking of mankind has led us to believe that the way OUR anatomy is happens to be unique? But considering how INCREDIBLY VAST this universe is, perhaps there are COUNTLESS humanoid lifeforms out there! Nevertheless, that STILL doesn't explain how so MANY of them have seemingly decided to pay our planet a visit! :laugh: To many, it could just seem like one MASSIVE coincidence (even though I personally DON'T believe in coincidences). Anyway, I'm going WAY off topic now... lol. So what this topic is about is if you believe that lifeforms exist in our universe that are made of certain metallic or electronic substances (and are also NOT carbon-based). Also, let us assume that if such beings exist, and that some humans laid eyes on them, they would INSTANTLY perceive them to be 'robots' (in an ARTIFICIAL sense, though). However, do you think that such hypothetical robotic lifeforms could ACTUALLY be based in nature? What I mean by this is that these creatures are NATURAL and ORGANIC. And if you believe that such lifeforms could exist, do you think they have the quality of sapience? :alien2:

If a life form were based on silicon then it might look something mechanical to us.
I really do not know if silicon based life could evolve into anything beyond primitive.
It is hard to envision how silicon life could or would evolve. The same for hydrogen, phosphorus or ?.

I am quite sure that the reason we are seeing humanoid visitors is because we are humanoid as them and the other types would avoid close contact due to their extreme appearance.

Organic robots aka biological robots will be a reality in the future. If it passes all the ethical talks, biological robots could look exactly like a humans but only have the intellegence to do what they are programmed to do any nothing more. This could end work forever and dramatically boast the economy. Scientists are finding out that biological entities and computers are similar. The brain is merely a biological computer. The DNA is the program ETC. Someday you may be able to have a biological robot who looks like Jessica Alba and you can live your wildest fantasies with her everyday if you want.Then put her in the closet after you are done!LOL I have researched quite a bit into the subject and will dig up some articles because it is very interesting.

I know the present idea is to make a human looking robot or android.
They are getting closer all the time.

Sounds kinda 'Total Recall'ish !

I'm not sure any entity of replicating organic basis, be it manufactured by another biological living [or inorganic] being) or not, can be considered a 'robot'. The traditional term for robot was one that was fairly specific: an inorganic, mechanical device that runs of its own accord, or by remote control by (in this case) a human.

Anything 'natural and organic' that occurs outside the definition of artificial (Merriam-Webster's definition being "humanly contrived often on a natural model : man made") is simply a life form. We're just that. So I'm not really sure what you're asking.

Something created by another species that is an organic life form is also just another life form, albeit one that was artificially altered by another life form in a controlled fashion. Of course, this could still be seen as 'natural,' as the parent creator was natural and organic as well. Another way to come at it is this: our technology is a natural part of our species -- we're wired to craft and utilize objects and materials in our environment for bettering survival. Thus it is completely natural.

Really, the line between what is 'natural' and 'unnatural' is a blurry one; the only real difference is the definitions imposed by humans in order to better understand the concepts between what is crafted and what simply occurs by the so-called "forces of nature" (to put it as simply as possible).

If another extraterrestrial species is a born tool-maker, it too may well be crafting inorganic ''robots,' or selectively creating and breeding biological creatures. Or, as humans do, they could be combining the two. But as I said, if these things are simply occurring due to the abovementioned "forces of nature," it can no longer be considered artificial or robotic.

I wonder if evolution follows a path that leads to bipedal beings with opposable thumbs.