Sezione Ufologica Triestina

                         General terms of the UFO question                             

                                              luciano.perla@alice.ittesi delle questioni principali

General consideration

Although today the acronym UFO is in common use in language, and in the imagination, the real meaning of what lies behind these initials is not as common. UFOs are still configured in a precarious and alternating balance between myth and striking objective reality. Behind this ambiguity we find the terms of the social and cultural framework of our civilization, which tends to reject what appears extraneous or incompatible with this framework and/or due to specific opportunities, An ambiguity which finds easy and natural support from the lack of direct contact this reality with our civilization.

The role and position of science in the UFO question

he role and position of the scientific community towards UFOs appears to be absent, ambiguous and/or critical
The central object of scientific research, and therefore of researchers, is focused in the context of natural physical phenomena, UFOs by definition are configured unidentified flying objects, whose characteristics are assimilated to technological artefacts, "phenomena" which therefore come out of the direct field of natural physical phenomena. In fact, historically the attention for these objects, "phenomena", arises from the circles of civil and military aeronautics, in particular from the military ones (see, for example, Blue Book) since they are responsible for the control and defense of national territories.
Many people in the scientific environment tend to reject, or do not recognize, the probative value of facts and events relating to UFO cases, nevertheless these facts and events are increasingly difficult to refute, an emblematic example in this sense, relatively recent, and the radar-visual and photographic case relating to the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Nimiz and the Princeton missile launcher of November 14, 2004. Facts, objective findings, which leave no doubts about the objectivity of these flying objects, their technological nature and their extraterrestrial origin.

Misunderstandings and paradoxes

The critical attitude assumed by many people in the scientific environment towards the UFO question represents both a stereotyped misunderstanding and the most striking scientific-cultural paradox of the recent cultural history of our civilization. In reality, the critical position that comes out of the academic environment regarding UFOs does not count, it represents, in essence, the point of view of individual people on this issue. It does not represent "the position of science on the UFO issue" at all, as there is no (public) report on UFOs as a result of systematic and interdisciplinary scientific research undertaken by the scientific community globally. Which, in fact, appears surprising (and sibylline) in consideration of the stakes (the direct acknowledgment of the diffusion, normality, of intelligent life in the cosmos). In many ways it is configured as the story of the guy who is insistently looking for the cap on his head. Theories, hypotheses, speculations on the diffusion of intelligent life in the cosmos, vati projects SETI and apparent blindness towards the fates and events proposed by the UFO casuistry. Apparent blindness, in fact, given that the "invisible college" (specific people, groups, bodies, and military and civilian institutions) has long known the objectivity and terms relating to the UFO question, and their extraterrestrial origin.
The question, as mentioned, is another: the considerable implications deriving from the presence of flying objects of extraterrestrial origin on our planet mark time, "freeze" the UFO question. The deeply rooted anthropocentrism that still characterizes our cultural configuration does the rest.

The implications

 The reason why the UFO question still appears in a precarious and alternating balance between myth and glaring objective reality is not at all due to the inexistence of probative objective evidence, on the contrary, but, mainly, and essentially, from the implications, direct or indirect, which arise from the conclusion of the extraterrestrial origin of UFOs. This can well explain the reticence and cover-up that has often characterized, and still characterizes, the attitude of government institutions towards this issue, even if today, however, many governments have made data and documents public relating to UFOs once classified classified or secret. Documents confirming the objectivity, technological nature and extraterrestrial origin of UFOs.
The terms of our relationship with this reality (?), go to the heart of the significant implications that this conclusion entails, given that a possible confrontation with extraterrestrial civilizations implies an unprecedented social and cultural confrontation, of historical significance, with what this entails. Relations and interactions between civilizations understood on a cosmic scale, this is what it is about, are configured precisely on a cosmic scale (!), which therefore re-proposes all social and cultural themes and questions on this scale; a new and original framework of relationships and interactions between civilizations, a new chapter of sociological issues, of which it is difficult to imagine terms and configuration.
Against the background of this framework and this perspective we find, as mentioned, the terms of the social and cultural reality of our civilization which yesterday as today tends to reject what appears extraneous or incompatible with such terms and/or for specific reasons. The confrontation with extraterrestrial civilizations also implies the prospect of a reconsideration of our overall socio-cultural dimension, which has its implications in all positions of power.

The terms and/or prerogatives of a comparison

In the course of human history, the framework of relationships and interactions between civilizations on our planet often takes the form of a (bloody) clash between civilizations rather than a confrontation between civilizations; moreover, the comparison between civilizations on the planet must emphasizes the fact that the comparison and/or integration between very different civilizations goes to the detriment of the less advanced civilization which over time loses its identity (anomia). Considerations that represent central questions that are all the more posed in a hypothesis, or perspective, of relationships and interactions between civilizations understood on a cosmic scale (considering the scale and the variables of this context), and which perhaps could explain both the attitude of closure of governments in relation to the UFO question is the lack of direct contact of this reality with our current civilization. A question of opportunities and prerogatives.
Cosmic distances represent the natural barrier that separates and isolates civilizations in the cosmic framework from the planetary context, distances that cannot be overcome under a specific and overall development of civilization. Consideration which in turn raises the question on the terms that configure the relationship between cosmic civilizations, capable of overcoming cosmic distances (by virtue of a specific scientific and technological development) and between these and planetary civilizations. Topological questions that connected to ethical questions, of law and power, and therefore to the terms that regulate (?) the relationships and interactions between civilizations in the cosmic framework. The question whether there are, and in what terms, and on what scale, rules, laws, and directives in this sense, are at the heart of the above considerations. Rules that would therefore define the framework, and the terms, of the relationships and interactions between civilizations in this context, and consequently the terms our relationship with this reality; of the present and the past.
 

Of the present and the past

Of the past and the present because it is good to underline, once again, that the facts and events proposed by the UFO casuistry are found distributed throughout the entire span of human history. Authors such as Pliny the Elder, Tito Livio and Giulio Ossequente, for example, and to stay in Italy, recounted the appearance in the sky of torches, torches and burning shields (Clypeus, from the shields of the soldiers of ancient Rome). Seneca in the Naturales issue referred to the appearance of luminous beams in the sky, which bring to mind, for example, the event observed in the Nuremberg sky and reconstructed in an engraving of 1561 (Wickiana Central Library of Zurich), which in turn recalls the French UFO sighting of Oloron, 1952 etc. Particular facts and events, UFOs, inexplicable, supernatural, due to the historical moment. Specific facts and events that have accompanied human history, often translated and/or disguised in the mythologies of the civilizations of our planet. Stories that see a direct relationship between men and gods, the mythical golden age, and which connected to religious cultural traditions.
Myths and beliefs that take on a new identity, a new interpretation, if stripped of the mantle that transforms them into myth. In this sort of metamorphosis, the planetary reality is connected to the cosmic reality, and therefore to the relationships and interactions between civilizations understood on a cosmic scale, and consequently to the terms monster relationship (?), of today and, precisely, of yesterday with this reality .
The real terms of our relationship with this reality (past and present) remains an open question (at least for the writer), terms that can hold surprises of all kinds and types.

Luciano Perla 20/11/2020