The Modern Rationalist – July 2019

(Joyce) #1

T


he important things to remember about UFOs (Unidentified Flying
Objects) are, first, that they are just alleged sightings that are
unidentified – that is, they are not proof of anything – and, second,
that eyewitnesses make identification difficult by so often being mistaken.
As UFO investigator Allan Hendry aptly noted, “We only get to study reports
of UFOs – not the UFOs themselves.”
The term UFO is problematic. Often the phenomenon is neither “flying”
nor an “object”; consider, for example, a bright disc that is really only the
effect of a searchlight playing on a low cloud layer. Unidentified aerial
phenomenon would be a more inclusive term (although itself not always
accurate), but it seems we are struck with UFO, Unfortunately, UFOs
are mostly reported by untrained observers – those lacking necessary
expertise in astronomy, atmospheric phenomena, aeronautics, physics,
and perception, among other factors. So, the widespread attitude that
because they are unidentified they are therefore probably extraterrestrial
craft is a logical fallacy called arguing from ignorance.
In fact – with careful, prompt investigation-most UFOs become IFOs,
identified flying objects. It cannot, of course, be expected to identify
something that never existed (for example, a false claim) or that is – as so

The Modern RationalistJuly 2019


Joe Nickell
Skeptical UFOlogist
Co-Editor of The UFO Invasion

James McGaha
Major USAF retired.
Former Electronic warfare pilot
Arizona, USA
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