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Line 1: − == Definitions ==+ − − − ''Life'' means living things, regardless of size, appetite, or condition of sentience. − − ''Microbe'' (from the [[Greek]] ''mikros'' small) means a form of life too small to see with the naked eye. − − ''Sentient'' life, also called ''sapient'' life (from the official binomial name of man, ''Homo sapiens''), means life that is aware of itself and has language and the ability to reason. − − − − ''Race'' means a species of sentient individuals. The use of the term ''race'' to mean a clan-like "subspecies" is not in view here. In this context, humans all belong to only one race, i.e., the human race. − − ''Civilization'' means the organization of a large group of ''persons'' to facilitate learning, justice, order, management (or acquisition) of resources, and mutual defense. − − ''[[UFO]]'' means unidentified flying object. −
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'''Extraterrestrial life''' is [[life]], whether demonstrated, hypothesized, or merely imagined, that did not obviously originate on the [[earth]]. It has been a staple of [[science fiction]] since the [[Edward VII|Edwardian]] era, but has also lately become the subject of intense speculation, scientific debate, and even theological debate.
'''Extraterrestrial life''' is [[life]], whether demonstrated, hypothesized, or merely imagined, that did not obviously originate on the [[earth]]. It has been a staple of [[science fiction]] since the [[Edward VII|Edwardian]] era, but has also lately become the subject of intense speculation, scientific debate, and even theological debate.
The term ''life'' is here used in its usual manner to connote living things, regardless of complexity or condition of sentience. However, in [[science fiction]] especially, extraterrestrial life may take unconventional form, such as non-carbon-based life forms or even disembodied intelligence. The term ''race'' here means a species of sentient individuals (not an ethnographic subdivision of a single species); for example, humans all belong to only one race, the human race.
''Extraterrestrial'' means "outside or beyond the earth." This may or may not include other planets, whether in our [[solar system]] or [[extrasolar planets|out of it]].<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=+Extraterrestrial Dictionary entry for extraterrestrial]</ref>
''Person'' means a sentient individual.
== Extraterrestrial life as a scientific hypothesis ==
== Extraterrestrial life as a scientific hypothesis ==