I’m currently in week 7 of an outstanding 14 week Introduction to Xenology course offered through the Exopolitics Institute by Manuel Lamiroy who has decades of ‘exo’ experience and research.
In this course xenology is defined as the scientific study of all aspects of extraterrestrial life, intelligence, and civilization following Robert Freitas who wrote a book on the subject in the 1970s. The course is structured in four parts which are outlined in the following video.
- Evolutionary xenology
- Socio-political xenology
- Cultural xenology
- Xenoarchaeology
As the above video indicates, the well established disciplines of human anthropology can be usefully applied to extraterrestrials. Manuel Lamiroy has updated and expanded on earlier xenology work to present leading-edge thinking in this rapidly changing field.
Importantly, Introduction to Xenology includes the analysis of valid data from reputable experiencer research which can result in increased confidence levels for any insights or assertions. This approach is similar to that taken by the Exostudies Institute’s Exo Studies Master Course which uses a metadisciplinary metatheory framework based on Integral Theory to include valid experiencer and consciousness research.
The inclusion of experiencer and consciousness literature in Introduction to Xenology makes a deeper and more integrated analysis possible. Lecturer Manuel Lamiroy encourages the questioning of assumptions and beliefs that underpin the paradigms/worldviews in both course participants and the examined research sources.
Apart from an approach that considers the social/cultural/political aspects of extraterrestrial research this xenology course largely sits within a post-materialist worldview with explicitly stated assumptions that differ significantly from the typical positivist materialist approaches taken by many researchers. This enables one to make some sense of data that falls outside reductionist materialist perspectives that are often entrenched in scientific disciplines, including those that study the cosmos.
Introduction to Xenology takes a rewarding ‘thought experiment’ approach within this expanded worldview, leading to tentative new insights and possibilities with surprising levels of confidence.
As the reality of extraterrestrial life within this solar system becomes more accepted, courses like this will become essential for those wishing to navigate the complexity and nuance of a bigger cosmic picture with discernment – and without unnecessary fear.
Reflections on the first 7 weeks
Week 1: Course Introduction
The course began by looking at the origins of ‘xenology’ in 1950s science fiction followed by academic treatments over subsequent decades. Xenology is more about what we can infer from the extensive pool of existing valid extraterrestrial data and analysis than exploring that evidence itself.
Week 1 also introduced methods of rigorous scientific, anthropological and critical inquiry.
Week 2: Astrobiology and Observed Phenotypes
This week looked at extraterrestrial life from a biological point of view. Astrobiology applies theories about how life is generally considered to have evolved on Earth to life that probably exists on the estimated billions of Earth-like exoplanets that exist within the Milky Way Galaxy.
Given that multicellular life evolved on Earth 3.5 billion years after it formed 4.5 billion years ago, it’s very likely that complex life evolved on much older exoplanets billions of years before that.
Given that it’s reasonable to assume that complex, and even advanced intelligent life evolved a long time before Earth humans a number of likely possibilities emerge. For example
- Advanced complex life evolving across a diversity of physical environments is likely to take many forms – some of which we may not even recognise as living.
- An advanced civilisation may have traveled beyond its planet of origin, solar system of origin, local star cluster and spread across part of the galaxy.
- They may plant vegetables or flowers from their home planet in their colony on an exoplanet.
Most astrobiology is speculative because any advanced extraterrestrial life is considered to be ‘out there’ far away across the galaxy based on generally accepted notions from classical science. However xenology accepts the valid data from experiencer and other related research which clearly demonstrates that advanced extraterrestrial life is both on and around Earth, and probably has been since early prehistorical times.
This week’s lecture concluded with an introduction to the observed phenotypes of extraterrestrials visiting Earth now and in the past. Illustrations of a wide range of extraterrestrials can be found in books by Elena Danaan or Craig Campobasso, or in the galactic art of Vashta Narada.
Week 3: Extraterrestrial Technology and Biotechnology
Week 3 began with an exploration of Xenobiotechnology following the early work of Robert Freitas. Manuel Lamiroy updates this early work by looking at current biotechnology on Earth and making the reasonable speculation that some extraterrestrials are likely to be much further advanced in this area. Such advancement brings us to the concept of ‘participative evolution’ where technologies are used to adapt or enhance natural biology.
In my earlier exo-studies I explored a number of channeled sources that suggested
- many extraterrestrial civilisations understand genetics and are capable of the genetic manipulation of life on the planets they visit or inhabit
- some extraterrestrials genetically modify their own bodies in order to adapt to living on exoplanets with different environments to their planet of origin
- some extraterrestrials are experts at cloning – sometimes because they lost reproductive capacity due to pollution or other factors on their home planet
This week also explored the possible types of extraterrestrial civilisation based on a number of factors including the form of technology used to power the civilisation. The Kardashev and other scales were introduced which propose civilisation types from 0 to IV.
Week 4: Examples of Extraterrestrial Technology
This week explored possible extraterrestrial technologies associated with each of the civilisation types 0 – IV introduced the previous week. Many of these technologies would be familiar to viewers of Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek which is believed by some to have been a form of ‘soft disclosure’ based on channeled information received by Roddenberry.
Evidence of extraterrestrial technology in Earth’s ancient and prehistoric past was briefly explored. Examples of present day extraterrestrial technology were summarised, as was evidence of extraterrestrial technology on the Moon, Mars and other planets and moons in this solar system.
Part of my exploration in the Exo Studies Master Course involved examining Mars using an Integral Metatheory Framework which demonstrated the existence of extraterrestrial technologies with a high level of confidence.
Week 5: Socio-political Xenology
Week 5 explored what we might reasonably deduce or infer about extraterrestrial social systems and governance based on those we see on Earth – human, animal and insect. A key point made is that we may need to expand our notions of governance, for example beyond the need to control.
The second part of this week’s lecture explored the dynamics of contact between extraterrestrial civilisations and Earth. A number of different contact scenarios were explored that are dependent on both the type of socio-political structures and purposes of a particular extraterrestrial civilisation and the types of likely responses by different sections of Earth’s humanity.
Given that a number of groups and organisations on Earth are currently considering options for more open and public extraterrestrial contact this week’s topic would appear to be a necessary part of that dialogue – as is the following week. For example, see How to Prepare for Extraterrestrial Contact.
Week 6: Extraterrestrial Behavior and Motivations
I’ve written before about the changing nature of UFO/UAP disclosure and the need to explore the more complex galactic bigger picture in the disclosure narrative.
This week’s topic provided extremely useful perspectives, typologies and scenarios to help us understand potential behaviours, motivations and intentions of different extraterrestrial civilisations or groups. This understanding can bring more discernment to our responses and empowers us to engage with extraterrestrials in mutual respect.
Week 7: Post Discovery Protocols and Threat Assessment
I’ve previously written about different forms of disclosure including government plans for disclosure.
This week’s lecture asked some important questions about the likely impact on society of a generally accepted extraterrestrial presence on or near Earth.
This question has been asked for decades since the 1940s. There are some publicly available policies and protocols such as those of the SETI Permanent Study Group of the International Academy of Astronautics. However these are mostly about the protocols for SETI scientists to follow in the event of the detection, analysis, verification, announcement, and response to signals from a remote extraterrestrial civilization.
Week 7 explores the threat narrative, particularly with reference to military perspectives on ETI. Adam Goldsac in Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Those Who Changed the World (2022) also describes how different UFO interest groups have used the threat narrative to gain the attention of media and politicians.
It’s clear that the ETI threat narrative has been overstated for a number of reasons. This week’s lecture reminded us to be aware of the agenda and intentions of different groups – both extraterrestrial and terrestrial. The lecture outlined the importance of assessing potential risks and benefits by considering Intent, Capability and Context.
Some are calling for humanity to be both empowered and discerning as ETI contacts increase and mainstream awareness of ETI as a reality, on and near Earth, draws closer.
I’m looking forward to the second half of this course – not only for the reading and lectures but also the extraordinary depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding of the other participants, some of whom have decades of experience with anomalous phenomena.
Read Xenology: Extraterrestrial Anthropology – Part 2
