The Extraterrestrial Hypothesis: A Case for Scientific Openness
Tim Lomas
Philosophy & Cosmology, Vol. 32
Summary
Philosophical case for treating the extraterrestrial hypothesis as scientifically legitimate. Surveys the evidentiary landscape, argues for removing the academic taboo that prevents serious scholarly investigation of ETH as a hypothesis, and proposes a framework for applying scientific openness to UAP research. Pairs naturally with the Wendt/Duvall political theory analysis of why the taboo exists and the Krame et al. securitization paper.
Abstract
This paper argues for scientific openness toward the extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH) regarding unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). The paper surveys available evidence, examines the sociological and institutional factors that have produced academic resistance to the ETH, and argues that scientific methodology requires treating the ETH as a legitimate hypothesis deserving systematic empirical investigation.
Citation
Tim Lomas. (2023). Philosophy & Cosmology. Vol. 32
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