UFO book based on questionable foundation.

Originally posted by Arbitrageur

Originally posted by MasterOfSparkz
expert testimony, even that which is sight unseen, is the most effective form of evidential testimony a defense or prosecution can offer or have considered.

From that perspective, isn't the article deferring somewhat to the "expert testimony" as you put it, of Allen Hynek? After all, who has investigated more UFO cases than Hynek did?

The new UFO book makes claims that contradict Hynek's statistics.

[edit on 27-8-2010 by Arbitrageur]

VERY good reply, starred. This is my 2cents in response:

No, DR. Hynek was assuredly NOT an expert witness. He most certainly was however, an expert investigator. Possibly as good as there ever was. You have to understand that Hynek started out with an absolute government directive and a certain biased predisposition as an investigator. It's felt that, that is precisely why he was picked for the job. It was only after the fact, that because he was a man of a somewhat rigidly honest degree of integrity, he himself KNEW that some of these reports were simply beyond common or uncommon scientific explanation. He also became outspoken with respect to the ridiculous nature of careless pseudo skeptical debunking that was becoming more and more common. He loathed as much.

One is TRULY mouth agape mind blown when it comes to the degree of experience and training that the likes of Gordon Cooper and others were honed with. This is a guy that despite unquestionable achievement and respect within pioneering scientific circles, STOOD UP, in front of congress and indeed the United Nations to make the case for the reality of what he observed as nonhuman intelligent design of mechanized air travel and space flight technologies. This man was a trained and experienced expert in the very area of observation that he made. None better or more qualified to make the claims he made based on his own observations. He is just one of MANY incredibly qualified witnesses.

In the most basic of academic philosophy undertakings, we are taught to "go to the men that know" in that we may not pursue folly but rather tread a path of integrity as we seek the knowledge of our choosing. Gordon Cooper was one such inspiration. Philosophically speaking, he was "a man who knew"

Debunkers and pseudo skeptics are those who pretend they "know".