1987 09 00 Isis - Vol 78 No 3 - Ron Westrum

Magazine Overview

This document is a single page from the journal *Isis*, Volume 78, Number 3, published in September 1987. It contains a book review and information about the journal's publisher and archive access.

Book Review: The UFO Verdict: Examining the Evidence by Robert Sheaffer

The primary content of this page is a review by Ron Westrum of Robert Sheaffer's book, "The UFO Verdict: Examining the Evidence." The book, published by Prometheus Books in 1986, is described as an attempt to provide a skeptical overview of the UFO phenomenon.

Westrum notes that while Sheaffer's book is helpful for its purpose, it lacks the historical perspective of David Jacobs's "UFO Controversy in America," the thoroughness of Allen Hendry's "UFO Handbook," and the scientific attitude of J. Allen Hynek's "UFO Experience." He acknowledges that Sheaffer reads interestingly and is more fair to his opponents than many debunkers. However, Westrum contends that much relevant detail is missing, particularly information that could jeopardize Sheaffer's argument.

Sheaffer's book chronicles disputes within the UFO research community, which is largely composed of scientific amateurs. Westrum criticizes Sheaffer for failing to convey the dedication and persistence involved in investigating these phenomena. He also points out that Sheaffer fails to mention Michael Persinger's "tectonic strain" theory, which is considered a principal alternative to the extraterrestrial hypothesis for explaining UFO reports.

Westrum speculates that the future history of science might find Sheaffer's points important in understanding why people believe in genuine UFOs when the scientific community is generally dismissive. He also highlights the scientific community's reluctance to investigate the phenomenon, noting the exclusion of physicists who study UFOs from scientific conventions on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

As a proponent of UFO research, Westrum identifies himself as not neutral in the field, contrasting with Sheaffer, whom he labels a debunker. Westrum agrees with Sheaffer's analysis of the 90 percent of cases that are ordinary, but finds the remaining 10 percent "really odd" and not as simply explained as Sheaffer suggests.

Book Review: Aristotle on Nature and Living Things: Philosophical and Historical Studies Presented to David M. Balme

The page also includes a review of "Aristotle on Nature and Living Things: Philosophical and Historical Studies Presented to David M. Balme on His Seventieth Birthday." This collection features twenty-four essays by friends, pupils, and admirers of David M. Balme, an Aristotelian scholar who was a professor of classics at Queen Mary College, London. The book was published in 1985 by Mathesis Publications and Bristol Classical Press.

Most essays focus on ancient biology, teleology, and biological taxonomy, areas where Balme has a strong reputation. The volume is subtitled "Philosophical and Historical Studies," with the philosophy of Aristotle's biology being the central concern. Some contributions touch on Aristotle tangentially, including papers on the Presocratic background to Aristotle's doctrine on blood and semen, Galen's reception of Aristotle's methodology, and Syriac and Arabic compilers of the *Historia animalium*.

Other essays cover diverse topics such as Plato's *Theaetetus* and Quintilian's physiognomy. A notable paper by the late G. E. L. Owen discusses Aristotle's use of abstract and mathematical models in his natural science. The first section, "Biology and Natural Philosophy," includes a paper by H. D. P. Lee that re-examines the debate over where Aristotle conducted his biological research and the authenticity of books within the *Historia animalium*.

Publisher and Archive Information

The journal *Isis* is published by The University of Chicago Press on behalf of The History of Science Society. The page provides a stable URL for accessing the content via JSTOR and notes that the use of the JSTOR archive indicates acceptance of its Terms & Conditions of Use. It also describes JSTOR as a not-for-profit service that digitizes, preserves, and extends access to scholarly content.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue reflects a scholarly approach to examining phenomena, with one section dedicated to a critical review of a skeptical book on UFOs and another to in-depth academic essays on classical philosophy and science. The editorial stance, as represented by the journal *Isis* and its publisher, is one of rigorous academic inquiry and the preservation of scholarly works. The review of Sheaffer's book suggests a nuanced perspective, acknowledging skeptical arguments while also pointing out their potential limitations and the broader context of scientific investigation.