Summary

There have been many goals of this paper and many issues treated. The following general positions have been defended:

1. The UFO phenomenon is a proper field of scientific study.
2. Some UFO researchers have proceeded with the elementary first steps of the scientific method in a proper fashion.
3. Some UFO researchers have pursued the more advanced steps of the scientific method properly, albeit with the difficulty expected in a complex, uncontrollable, de novo science.
4. The ET hypothesis is a proper alternative hypothesis for use in evaluating UFO reports.
5. Reasonable scenarios within the ET hypothesis are consistent with debated and puzzling characteristics of many unexplained UFO reports.

And, concerning the possibility that an advanced ETI civilization could be visiting our planet, it is easy to conceive why the following specific characteristics of the UFO phenomenon would follow:

6. UFO experiences would not be able to be controlled or easily predicted by Earth scientists.
7. UFO experiences might be deliberately made confusing whenever total secrecy was not possible or desired.
8. "Good" (related to ETI) UFO cases would be relatively rare, buried within a multitude of mundane experiences.
9. Some UFO experiences might appear to be deliberately "staged" to accomplish some specific purpose.
10. "Magical" or "impossible" characteristics of some experiences might rather be manifestations of ultra-advanced technology according to the "Clarke Law" of the impact of such technology on relative primitives.
11. Occasional awarenesses or subtle programmed information might be transferred, but never concrete physical evidence.

These last comments are highlighted simply as a reminder that the rejection of some reports, or the whole study area, on the basis of "absurd or confusing content" is another inappropriate attitude in this ETI context. Such a list as above may be a bit depressing for the scientist who would much rather be the controller than part of the controlled, but it is a possibility well within our concept of the universe and what could be going on around us.

I cannot presume to describe, however, what UFOs are, because I don't know; but I can establish beyond reasonable doubt that they are not all misperceptions or hoaxes s1J. Allen Hynek, 1972.