The importance of phenomenology for UAP Studies
Kimberly S. Engels
Limina March 7, 2025 DOI: 10.59661/001c.131704 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Argues that phenomenology, with its rigorous focus on first-person experience and the essential features of appearing objects, should be included as a supplemental method to empirical approaches in UAP research. The author contends its strengths include restoring the lived world as the foundation of knowledge, moving beyond the extraterrestrial hypothesis, exploring absences, distinguishing sensory from non-ordinary perception, examining UAP as intersubjective experiences, and linking UAP to other anomalous phenomena. |
Abstract
Phenomenology as a research method is rooted in rigorous examination of first-person experiences, and identifying that which is essential to the appearance of the object. Phenomenology offers several important strengths that make it critical to include as a supplemental method to more empirical approaches. Strengths of phenomenology include the restoring of the lived world as the foundation of knowledge, moving beyond the extraterrestrial hypothesis, the exploration of absences, the discrimination between sensory perception and non-ordinary perception, exploring UAP as intersubjective experiences, and drawing similarities between UAP and other anomalous phenomena.
Comparable studies
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| Psychosis as a state of aberrant salience: a framework linking biology, phenomenology, and pharmacology in schizophrenia. | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From dopamine to salience to psychosis--linking biology, pharmacology and phenomenology of psychosis. | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How do the brain's time and space mediate consciousness and its different dimensions? Temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC). | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The phenomenology of deep brain stimulation-induced changes in OCD: an enactive affordance-based model. | 2013 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |