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> UFO‐spotters, Raelian cultists, and self‐certified alien abductees notwithstanding, humans have, to date, seen no sign of any extraterrestrial intelligent civ
by Inu 8y ago
> UFO‐spotters, Raelian cultists, and self‐certified alien abductees notwithstanding, humans have, to date, seen no sign of any extraterrestrial intelligent civilization. [...] If large telescopes, NASA satellites, and omplicated mathematical data analysis are involved, it becomes harder for outside observers to mistake the work for the ramblings of UFO‐nuts and other crackpots.
The author makes it clear that for a serious scholar "UFOs" can a priori only be a subject of ridicule.
- kordlessagain 8y agoThis behavior evidently started with Zeno of Elea's run on logic through reasoned argument. He's the reason we have the scientific method, basically. Fortunately, the scientific method produced technology that allows me to post this comment. Unfortunately, limiting a culture's philosophy to only discussing things we can attempt to disprove results in limiting the ability to discuss something as if it were true, before we know it to be true by proof. Example: I believe ʻOumuamua was a spacecraft. Can't prove it, but can't talk about it as a truth either, which sorta sucks given I figured (when I was a kid) aliens would be here by now. ;)