The Mystery of Elusiveness
Bertrand Meheust
Limina: The Journal of UAP Studies
Summary
By Bertrand Meheust, whose 1978 thesis is foundational to UAP cultural analysis, this paper addresses the defining characteristic of UAP phenomenology: elusiveness - the simultaneous display and concealment of the phenomenon across all observational contexts. Meheust proposes examining elusiveness as a signature operating at multiple conceptual levels, draws parallels to poltergeist research as a methodological precedent, and argues that the phenomenon's unpredictability and non-reproducibility do not preclude rigorous investigation. Philosophically significant to DECUR's framing of why UAP resists definitive detection.
Abstract
Elusiveness represents the most striking characteristic of UFO manifestations. This article defines the phenomenon as a persistent coupling of contradictory dimensions - ostentation and evasion occurring simultaneously. For skeptics, this elusiveness suggests collective illusion; for investigators maintaining an open inquiry, it remains a significant impediment to collecting tangible evidence. The article proposes examining elusiveness as a defining signature across multiple conceptual levels: at a weak level, naturally leading toward skeptical conclusions; at a strong level, pointing toward a genuine and disturbing discovery. The author identifies a central paradox - the process of elusive display prevents gathering reliable and conclusive data, yet simultaneously demonstrates an intentional psychological dimension rather than natural occurrence. Drawing parallels to poltergeist phenomena, studied for centuries and marked by identical elusiveness, the author argues that the methodological approach used in parapsychological research - affirming reality from material traces despite non-reproducibility - represents a legitimate framework for understanding UAP manifestations.
Citation
Bertrand Meheust. (2025). Limina: The Journal of UAP Studies. DOI: 10.59661/001c.131703
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