Bridging Incommensurability: UAP as Planetary-Scale SETI Engagement
Courtney Bower
World Futures: The Journal of New Paradigm Research
Summary
Proposes a unified theoretical framework treating UAP phenomena as potential planetary-scale SETI engagement, building on the incommensurability framework developed by Vallee and Davis. Argues that the SETI paradigm and the UAP research paradigm are not incompatible but require a bridging framework to integrate their evidence bases. Natural companion to the Vallee/Davis paper already in DECUR.
Abstract
This article presents a framework for exploring a hypothetical: Could the challenges of incommensurability between different intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations be bridged through the local production of plasma-based signals? The receiving civilization would initially perceive these attempts at proto-communication as a highly anomalous subset of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). By harnessing universal approaches, these ephemeral atmospheric displays would be designed to engage perception without assuming shared symbols or technological parity. This diverges from the traditional search for extraterrestrial intelligence, relying on plainly observable phenomena rather than specialized detectors. The framework challenges anthropocentric biases and invites interdisciplinary research into UAP as possible indicators of extraterrestrial engagement.
Citation
Courtney Bower. (2025). World Futures: The Journal of New Paradigm Research. DOI: 10.1080/02604027.2025.2569011
https://doi.org/10.1080/02604027.2025.2569011Related Papers
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