Did you question your friend? Did you explore each side of his theory for holes? I hope you did.
Quote:
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However, not every one of them is inhabited. Therefore, there must be a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any finite number divided by infinity equals zero, so the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely the products of a deranged imagination.
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This first statement alone (which the rest of his theory rests upon) balances on the notion that life is here on this planet. Therefore, the rest of his theory is merely a kiddy math game. I could also sit and divide by 30, 467, 5,000,000, or any number. Did he explain the significance of using infinity? Did you ask?
BTW, average population does not mean Total population. If 99% of the Universe is unoccupied "on average", that leaves a 1% that is. He conceded in his first sentence that life is here ("
not every one" implies that there must be life inhabited on one, in this case: Earth), as he would have no room to make such an observation with.
I reject your friends theory. Have him retool it and then try again.