So, ND leaves open the metaphysical possibility that two physically identical beings can differ mentally (for instance, it opens up the possibility of the philosophical notion of a “zombie”). For example, one version of dualism, property dualism, leave open the metaphysical possibility that mental facts/properties are non-physical (the so-called double-aspect theory of Benedict de Spinoza (1632–77) can be thought of as property dualism) and, if I understand it correctly, that the non-physical properties are causally efficacious. Similar problem with Skinwalker Ranch, we do not have the hard materials of some of the physical crypto-terrestrial figures that were reported. How can we scientifically compare the atomic structure of say a Grey Alien, Bigfoot and the Lady of Lourdes? Probably not, because science cannot answer the condition question (question a) above): what is the condition, being physical, that everything satisfies or bears a relation to? That is probably the more important question to understand than the completeness question (we will explore the condition question in the subsection “Notion of qualia…”). In philosophy and science, it is the completeness question that, so far, has got most of the attention. Most strange, was the encounters were with all manner of differing people/beings, some human, some looking less than human (some claiming to be from Mars and other places), and all traveling in ships that the experiencer has no accounting for. The technology and vehicles reported were a bizarre mix of crude blimp like airships that had the ability to accelerate and move beyond what was understandable at that time. Keep in mind, that in 1896-97 the American people had no functional working airships, let alone ones that could perform what was being reported. We would not take to the skies in planes for another decade. It may help with some historical context to better understand the nature and scope of today's metaphysics.

There are simply too many confounding variables we can’t consider because we don’t have the data from those timeframes. We have reached the end of this article. I hope you have a better idea of what metaphysics as a branch of philosophy can be and how it might be applied in your studies of high strangeness experiences and UFOs and in your life in general. If not, then the fault is probably mine.Take for example the ‘ Mysterious Airships’ - unlike the majority of ‘Flying Disc’ reports and historical waves - the airships would often land and their occupants engage and speak fluently with the locals openly about knowledge they had of America. The ‘Flying Discs’ however, would sporadically land, but would more often than not take off when discovered by locals and act more elusive. The interactions were very different, the engagement was different, the length of time on the ground was different – although in truth, there are reported cases in which ‘aliens’ that were out fixing their ships (similar to the airships). In section 2 comes an overview of the most common metaphysical assumption in modern science, “physicalism” (also known as “materialism”). In the same section, I will contrast physicalism with the metaphysical notion of dualism and also present two objections to physicalism. The general idea with section 2, and its subsections, is to explore whether there is any metaphysical/logical reason for science to dismiss the high strangeness aspect of UFOs/UAP. The six layers that are introduced serve as a good measure to capture the traits of anomalous phenomena, but for me they do not explain the origin. As I’ve stated previously, linking any number of Marian apparitions to UAP is problematic. Unfortunately, and as an example, we do not have access to hard materials from the cases of Fatima or Lourdes to test or evaluate, additionally, we do not have videos, credible photos to truly examine the apparition figure. We have testimony, which is not enough to conclude. If ND is a coherent position, SP does not express a sufficient condition for physicalism. If ND is true, any physical duplicate (possible world) of the actual world is a duplicate simply and unconditionally (or simpliciter). And yet, if dualism of any version is true, including ND, physicalism is false. Because, if ND is true, there is some property distinct from the physical that is “transferred” or “copied” from our actual world to the possible world (physical duplicate).

While it is true that all the problems that Aristotle considered in his fourteen books are still said to belong to metaphysics, since at least the 17th century, the word metaphysics has been applied to a much wider range of subject matters. In contemporary metaphysics, subject matters as, for example, the mind-body problem, identity (especially “numerical identity”), modality (about possibility and necessity), free will, are included. Obviously, the ideal is to combine the theoretical with the practical. I am a so-called armchair commentator, but I know well that I will not reach any definitive answers about the high strangeness aspect or UFOs/UAP without some practical fieldwork. So even though I can question the results or conclusions of researchers out in the field gathering data, analyzing, etc., I will always appreciate and highly respect their dedication and effort. Note: Technically, supervenience and reduction are distinct notions. You can also say that matter entails the mind or that the mind is grounded in matter, but I will not go into those distinctions here. The distinctions have to do with the degree of modal force: the strength of the relation that obtains between everything and the physical].

High Strangeness In UFOs

It has no wings, no obvious propulsion, no rotor, and it outmatches the best F-18 fighter jet known to man. If you were to speak to David Fravor’s subconscious and ask it to create a perfect vessel, that would be it. The anomalous phenomena ‘Tic-Tac’ represents what we want, they are a by-product, straight from our very own subconscious. The problem is we can’t correlate such data or verify each case appropriately on their own merit and therefore shouldn’t conclude on limited data or assign faulty assumptions based on our own psychological needs and preexisting narratives.

Throughout, I do not intend to decry science or some scientists and/or debunkers in particular. My intention is to present material to the reader so that they can explore and make up their own mind about the main and underlying question in section 2 and its subsections:

The most recent and talked-about example is Professor Avi Loeb and his colleagues at The Galileo Project. Even though I feel encouraged by Professor Loeb's project, and believe some fruitful results can come out of , the project, it is still predicated on physicalism. And as we will see in section 2, physicalism has its constraints in explaining the high strangeness of the UFO phenomenon. Of course, The Galileo Project does not focus on the high strangeness aspect, so it can still yield interesting results of UFOs’ physical and technological aspects. (Maybe also of the high strangeness aspect, who knows?).

One last thing on why care about metaphysics before moving on to my answer to TMQ. Some basic knowledge and awareness of metaphysical subject matters can, and should, make us realize how little we know about topics we take for granted that we understand what they are and how they work. That realization should make us humble and wiser. I hope my answer to “why metaphysics?” is clear enough, and if so, it is still ok to disagree. Lewis claims that the “global properties” — for example, subjective experiences — must be the same as, or at least have a close and certain relation to, the “dots and non-dots” — for example, the laws of physics. So the basic idea of supervenience is that the world’s physical properties are like the dots in the picture, and the psychological, biological, or social properties of the world are like the global properties of the picture. Just as the global properties of the picture supervene on the dots, so too everything in our world supervenes on the physical, if physicalism is true. [ Note: From now on, I am not referring specifically to Lewis´notion of supervenience or physicalism]. Consider the reports from history, we shouldn’t assume that similar behaviour or similar technological abilities mean a direct correlation of origin or causal linkage. As good researchers and scientists, we must try to disprove our own theories. Also we must be sceptical, not as a tool to dismiss a phenomena, but as a means to open up more questions.

High Strangeness In Future Innovation

But how to understand ND? How can mental facts and physical facts simultaneously be both distinct/wholly separate and yet have a necessary relation? ND can be developed into a property dualism and claim that (i) every particular is a physical particular but (ii) some particulars (like human beings) have psychological properties wholly distinct from any physical properties. We can also consider that the anomalous phenomenon might be a quantum wave – some yet to be discovered array of various signals that make up human reality. What if the true nature of the anomalous phenomenon is so unrecognisable that we see ‘Tic-Tacs’ and ‘Flying Discs’ because that is what makes sense to us and that is what it makes us see as part of a symbiotic relationship. A continuous ‘möbius loop.’ After this introduction, I will overview some metaphysical issues in contemporary (Western) philosophy and science, which I think apply to the high strangeness aspect. The purpose of the overview is to explore TMQ and to show that some basic knowledge of metaphysics — a branch of philosophy — can be relevant to your studies of the high strangeness aspect and/or UFOs.