A new mythology is gripping modern man. UFOs have replaced the gods of Mount Olympus as the source of mystery and wonder in the world. From the great halls of universities, the powerful voice of mass media, and casual conversation between neighbors, the public is continuously bombarded with confusing information and unsubstantiated claims. Do UFOs exist? Is there any evidence to support claims both for and against? Are they extraterrestrial in origin?
In The UFO Verdict: Examining the Evidence, Robert Sheaffer analyzes the factual case for UFOs. He asks whether the numerous sightings are really extraterrestrial visitors, mere nonsense, or a phenomena more bizarre than anyone now imagines. Virtually all books on the subject promote belief in UFOs. Here is one of the very few studies that approaches the many claims of UFOs with a skeptical eye.
This book provides a lively and critical evaluation of arguments offered on behalf of those who claim that unidentified flying objects are, in fact, real. UFO incidents and photographs are scrutinized within a framework of the philosophy of science, emphasizing the requirement that all scientific hypotheses be both fully objective and falsifiable.
The author examines numerous 'classic" UFO sightings, revealing aspects of these incidents seldom if ever seen in print. Among the cases included are: the Jimmy Carter UFO sighting, the famous "UFO Abduction" of Betty and Barney Hill, the "Incidents at Exeter," and various other close encounters of the first, second, and third kinds. Historical parallels between modern UFO sightings and the claims of those who saw fairies and witches in colonial times are also drawn.
A significant contribution to the sociology of science, The UFO Verdict: Examining the Evidence is accessible to the professional scientist and general reader alike. In short, it possesses that rare quality of academic excellence with popular appeal.
Robert Sheaffer, a leading skeptical investigator of UFOs, is a free-lance writer whose articles have appeared in such diverse publications as Astronomy, The Skeptical Inquirer, Fate, and Spaceflight. A founding member of the UFO Subcommittee of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, Mr. Sheaffer actively pursues a life-long interest in astronomy and the question of life in other worlds. He was an invited speaker at the 1980 National UFO Conference in New York City and also at the Smithsonian Institution UFO Symposium in Washington, D.C. His biography is listed in the Doubleday Encyclopedia of UFOs.
242 pages ISBN 0-87975-338-2 paper