Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects (the Condon Report, complete, three volumes)

9. ~xtra-terrestrial Hypothesis
The idea that some UFOs may be spacecraft sent to Earth from
another civilization, residing on another planet of the solar system,
or on a planet associated with a more distant star than the Sun, is
called the Extra-terrestrial Hypothesis (ETH). Some few persons profess
to hold a ~ trongcr level of )eHef in the aatuaZity of UFOs being visi-
tors from outer space, controlled by intelligent beings, rather than
merely :>f the p088ibUity, not yet fully established as an observa-
tional fact. We shall c~11 this level of belief ETA, for extra-
terrestrial actuality.
It is often difficult to be sure just what level of belief is held
by various persons, b~cause of the vagueness with which they ~tate
their ideas.
For example, addressing the American Society of Newspaper Editors
in Washington on 22 Ap~;' 1967, Dr. McDonald oeclan,c1.: "There is. in
my Fresen t opinion, no sensible alternative to the utterly shockiag
hypothesis that the UFOs are extl'aterrestri al prob~s from somewhere
else.· f Then in an Australian broadcast on 20 August 1961 McDonald ';aid:
" you find yourself ending up with the seemingly ab~urd. seemingly
improbable hYJi,)thesis that thes ~ tni; gs may come from :>omewhere elsE.:."
A mUllber of other sdentists have also expressed themsel ve::' as
believers in ETH. if not ETA, but usually in more cautious ~e~:.
The !:eneral idea of space travel by humans from Earth and visi tors
to Earth from uther ci vi l.izations is ~n old :me and has been the sub-
ject of many works of fiction. In the past 250 years 'che topic has
been widely developed in science fiction. A fascinating account of
the development of thL literary fonn is gi.ven in PiZg1'irne through
Spaae (md Time -- 'l'rend..q and Pattern"; ~n S'rnentirc and Utopian Fietion
(Baile;;. 1947)
The first published ;;uggestion that some UFOs are visitors frfJr"
ether civili zations is contain£:d in an article in '~v-ue, entitled
"r'lylng Sauct'rs are Real" by ;)ona1d E. Keyhoe (1950).
9. ~xtra-terrestrial Hypothesis
The idea that some UFOs may be spacecraft sent tu Earth from
another civilization, residing on another planet of the solar system,
or on a ;'Jlanet associated wi th a more distant star than the Sun, is
called the Extra-terrestrial Hypothesis (ETH). Some few persons profess
to hold a ~ trongt::T level of J e 1 ief in the aatuality of UFOs being visi-
tors from out~r space, controlled by intelligent beings, rather than
merely ~f the P088ibiZity, not yet fully established as an observa-
tional fact. We shall cell this level of belief ETA, for extra-
terrestrial actuality.
It is often di.fficult to be sure just what level of b~lief is held
by various persons, b~(aur,e of the vagueness with which they fjtate
their ideas.
For example, addressing the American Society of Newspaper Editors
in Washington on 22 Ap'; 1 1967, Dr. McDonald Oeclal\~cl,: "There is, in
my present opinion, no sensible alternative to tbe utterly '5hockl,lg
hypothesis that the UFOs are extl'aterrestrial probr;>= from somewhere
else .. ,
"
Then in an Australian broadcast on 20 August 1961 McDonald ';&id:
you find yourself ending up with the seemingly ab~ul'u, seemingly
improbable hYIJ,)thesis that the~! tnl; gs may come from :;om€Jwhere else."
A number of other scientists have also expressed themse~1Ie; as
belie1'ers in ETH, if not ETA, but usually in more cautious 'termc'.
l'he !:eneral ides of space travel by humans from Earth and visi tors
to Earth from <.other civilizations is 1'n old one and has heen the sub-
ject of many works of fiction. In the past 250 years the topic has
been \w'idely developed in science fiction. A fascinating account of
the development of thL l'lterary fonn is gi.ven in PiZgrims through
Space .'1Jui Time -- '1'rend..~ a:nd Pattern" ~('/ 8(nentif~c and Utopian Fic:tion
(Baile;r, 1947)
The first published ;;Llggestion tha~ some UFOs are vi.sitors frl)T"
ether civili zations is containt:d in an article in ""'Ue, entitled
"r'lying Sauct'rs are Real" by ;)ona1l.1 E. Keyhoe (195\).