ON THE SYSTEMATICS OF HYPOTHESES CONCERNING THE UFO PHENOMENON: SOME THOUGHTS AND A MODEST PROPOSAL

This document, authored by Luis Schönherr, a consultant for FSR, presents a methodological proposal for the classification of UFO hypotheses. Schönherr argues that the current state of UFO research is hindered by a lack of systematic categorization. He proposes a three-tiered framework to organize hypotheses: Level 1 (L1) concerns the physical or psychical nature of the phenomenon; Level 2 (L2) addresses the origin, such as terrestrial, extraterrestrial, or geophysical; and Level 3 (L3) examines the nature of the intelligence or design involved. The author contends that these levels are not mutually exclusive and that a structured approach would prevent unproductive debates between proponents of different theories, such as the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) versus psychological interpretations. Schönherr emphasizes that scientific methodology should be flexible and that the sequence of investigation is critical. He illustrates his point with examples of how a military commander or a scientist would approach a problem, suggesting that researchers should not jump to conclusions about origin (L2) before establishing the physical nature (L1) of the event. The document also touches upon the history of abduction cases, noting that researchers like Herrera and Lawson attempted to test the 'birth-trauma' hypothesis, though the author remains skeptical of its sufficiency. Additionally, the document includes a historical excerpt from FSR Vol. 9, No. 6 (1963) regarding a sighting on Wimbledon Common, where a woman reported seeing a flying saucer the size of a double-decker bus. The document concludes with a philosophical quote by G.K. Chesterton regarding the limitations of scientific discovery.