Article/Document:
Refuting Fermi: No Evidence for Extraterrestrial Life?
John B. Alexander, Ph.D.
original source | fair use notice
Summary: In a recent article Seth Shostak drew attention what has become known as the Fermi Paradox. Typically discussants raise the famous off-hand luncheon comment by Enrico Fermi, "Where is everybody?" when dismissing the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life. The invocation of such a distinguished figure is polemic and used to make the position academically unassailable.
In a recent article Seth Shostak drew attention what has become
known as the Fermi Paradox. Typically discussants raise the
famous off-hand luncheon comment by Enrico Fermi, "Where is
everybody?" when dismissing the existence of intelligent
extraterrestrial life. The invocation of such a distinguished
figure is polemic and used to make the position academically
unassailable.
In the ranks of scientific loyalists there is a constant refrain
pertaining to the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial
life. Best phrased by Carl Sagan, known for his "billions and
billions" quotation in developing the hypothesis that we share
the universe with other forms of intelligence, he added "but
there is not one shred of evidence to support it." Really?
Actually, the book he co-edited with Thornton Page, UFOS: A
Scientific Debate, refutes his own statement. The deductive
error is conflation of lack of evidence with proof beyond a
reasonable doubt.
Edward Condon fostered this misconstruction in his fatally
flawed and internally inconsistent report on UFOs. Despite the
widely published conclusions, his report too contained
substantial evidence supporting the physical existence of these
objects. The error is the a priori assumption that UFOs cannot
exist therefore no evidence to the contrary will be considered,
never mind accepted. Few scientists would allow such faulty
logic to prevail in their own field of expertise. Yet, in the
emotionally laden field of UFOs, scientists let Condon stand
uncorrected and disregarding pertinent facts has become the
accepted norm.
The undeniable reality is that there are a substantial number of
multi-sensor UFO cases backed by thousands of credible
witnesses. In the physical domain there are many photos, videos,
radar tracking, satellite sensor reports, landing traces
including depressions and anomalous residual radiation,
electromagnetic interference, and confirmed physiological
effects. Personal observations have been made both day and
night, often under excellent visibility with some at close
range. Included are reports from multiple independent witnesses
to the same event. Psychological testing of some observers has
confirmed their mentally competence. Why is none of this
considered evidence?
There are over 3000 cases reported by pilots, some of which
include interference with flight controls. On numerous
occasions air traffic controllers and other radar operators have
noted unexplained objects on their scopes. So too have several
astronomers and other competent scientists reported their
personal observations. Many military officials from several
countries have confirmed multi-sensor observations of UFOs. The
most senior air defense officers of Russia, Brazil, Belgium and
recently a former Chief of Naval Operations in Chile all have
stated that UFOs are real. These cases and comments are a
miniscule fraction of the total body of evidence.
Of course they do not constitute irrefutable proof. However, to
state there is no evidence suggestive of intelligent
extraterrestrial life simply belies the facts. Decades in
duration and global in nature, there are too many hard sensor
data-points and millions of eyewitnesses to ignore. We certainly
can debate the significance of specific data and question
whether or not it establishes a causal relationship between the
observations and extraterrestrial life. However, it is only
through ignorance or pomposity that one can say no evidence
exists.
Read more articles on this topic:
Fermi's Paradox
