Description

Hi all,

I've developed this resource for an article I am currently working on. I thought it would be a good idea to get some feedback and constructive criticism on it. I know it doesn't cover all the hypotheses, but I think it captures the main options.

The purpose of the key is to identify how the hypotheses fit with different metaphysical positions. I have labelled a hypothesis as ‘natural’ if it is compatible with our best scientific theories and does not require assumptions that challenge established conventional wisdom in those areas. For example, the ETH doesn’t necessarily require FTL travel, and physics itself doesn’t preclude the possibility of alien visitation. Obviously, this does not mean that scientists agree that the ETH is correct, but it’s at least ‘on the table’ as a possibility, remote as it may be.

I’ve labelled hypotheses as ‘hypernatural’ if they are, broadly speaking, compatible with our best scientific theories but would require assumptions that radically overturn conventional wisdom. For example, the Hollow Earth Hypothesis would challenge our fundamental understanding of geology, but it doesn’t necessarily require the existence of supernatural entities. If it helps, you can think of it as Naturalism+, where it’s pushing naturalism to its limits, but it doesn’t fundamentally undermine the view that everything is natural.

The Demonic Hypothesis and the Psychic Projection Hypothesis both require the existence of the supernatural in addition to the natural. Demons would be at odds with a scientific understanding of the world, and you might need to study them using methods that aren’t empirical.

A significant part of the article will be explaining these distinctions and why they matter. I’ve tried to map out the main options available to anyone interested in the phenomenon.

I appreciate any feedback anyone has, and I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you.