Psi Wars: Getting to Grips with the ParanormalJames E. Alcock, Jean E. Burns, Anthony Freeman At the heart of the parapsychology (psi) battle are two types of phenomena: extra-sensory perception (ESP) and psycho-kinesis (PK). ESP is reception of information without any normal sensory means; PK is the use of the mind to influence physical states without any direct physical contact. Neither effect can be explained by ordinary science, so parapsychologists with experimental evidence that they are real are accused of bad science or bad faith or both. This collection of essays shows that a simple division into 'sceptics' and 'believers' cannot be made. The real struggle, for all researchers, is not with each other, but to get a secure hold on the subject itself. |
Contents
A Personal Reflection | 1 |
What is Beyond the Edge of the Known World? | 7 |
Reasons to Remain Doubtful about the Existence of Psi | 29 |
Analysis of a Debate | 51 |
The Role of the Experimenter in Parapsychological Research | 69 |
A Review of Dream ESP Studies Conducted Since the Maimonides Dream ESP Studies | 85 |
We Ask Does Psi Exist? But Is this the right Question and Do we Really Want an Answer Anyway? | 111 |
Physics and Claims for Anomalous Effects Related to Consciousness | 135 |
The Relevance of Research into Eyewitness Testimony and False Memories for Reports of Anomalous Experiences | 153 |
Is Astrology Relevant to Consciousness and Psi? | 175 |
Must the Magic of Psychokinesis Hinder Precise Scientific Measurement? | 199 |
Extrasensory Perception or Effect of Subjective Probability? | 221 |
Common terms and phrases
Alcock analysis anomalous experiences appear astrologers attempts Beloff binary birth chart Blackmore brain Brugger chance expectation claims clairvoyance cognitive correlation critics database deviation dream ESP effect size effect sizes ESP studies evidence experimenter effect explain extrasensory extrasensory perception Eysenck factors false memories findings ganzfeld ganzfeld experiments guesses Honorton Hyman hypnosis hypothesis influence interpretation involved Jahn Jeffers Journal of Parapsychology Journal of Scientific judging Kanthamani Krippner laboratory large number Maimonides Maimonides studies mean mental mentation meta-analysis micro-PK observed occur outcome Pallikari Palmer paranormal belief Parapsychological Association parapsychological research Parker participants performance person phenomena possible post-PRL pre-PRL precognition predict produce psi effects psi exist psi-conducive psi-missing Psychical Research psychokinesis psychology quantum mechanics Radin random replication reported Rhine sceptical Schmidt scores sender sensory significant significantly Skeptical Inquirer Society for Psychical statistical success suggest target sequences telepathy theory tion trials Ullman Wiseman