The Limits of Influence: Psychokinesis and the Philosophy of ScienceThe Limits of Influence is a detailed examination and defense of the evidence for largescale-psychokinesis (PK). It examines the reasons why experimental evidence has not, and perhaps cannot, convince most skeptics that PK is genuine, and it considers why traditional experimental procedures are important to reveal interesting facts about the phenomena. It then examines why PK does not pose a clear threat to the very fabric of science, as many have proposed. The major skeptical challenges to taking large-scale PK seriously and the reason why those challenges are all unsatisfactory are considered. The evidence examined most closely is the turn-of-the-century evidence for physical mediumship, with special attention given to the cases of D.D. Home and Eusapio Palladino. The author compares and evaluates the leading theories of apparitions and considers the extent to which the evidence for collective apparitions can be interpreted as a further type of psychokinetic phenomenon. Finally, the claim that PK (and psychic functioning generally) might occur in refined and extensive forms is considered. It argues that this claim is not as outlandish as many have maintained and that we might have to accept something like the 'magical' world view associated with so-called 'primitive' societies. |
Contents
The Importance of NonExperimental | 1 |
Physical Mediumship Two Classic Cases | 53 |
Physical Mediumship Miscellaneous | 131 |
Copyright | |
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The Limits of Influence: Psychokinesis and the Philosophy of Science Stephen E. Braude No preview available - 1991 |
Common terms and phrases
accordion agent apparently apparitional experiences appropriate argue astral body behavior Braude causal connections causal history cause Chapter claim clockwise causal collective apparitions concept concerning consider context conventional causal copy theory Crookes D.D. Home Dingwall Eisenbud Eusapia Eusapia Palladino example experiences experimental explain fact Feilding fraud Gauld hallucinations hand Home's hypnosis inner episode interests investigators Journal of Parapsychology kind large-scale least levitate a table manifestations material Medhurst medium mediumistic mental micro-PK Moreover objectivist objects observed occur P-intention Palladino paranormal percipients person physical mediumship physical phenomena PK effects poltergeist position possibility precognition precognized Proceedings processes produced properties psi functioning psi phenomena Psychical Research Psychokinesis psychological rapport reason relevant reports retrocausal connections retrocausalists Richet Science scientific séance seems Sidgwick similar simply sitters sitting skeptical Society for Psychical sort spiritualistic suggest super psi super-psi hypothesis suppose telepathic interaction telepathic theory theoretical things Tyrrell underlying