Science and Psychic Phenomena: The Fall of the House of Skeptics
By
Chris Carter
About Science and Psychic Phenomena
A factual and conscientious argument against materialism's vehement denial of
psi phenomena
-- Explores the scandalous history of parapsychology since the scientific
revolution of the 17th century
-- Provides reproducible evidence from scientific research that telepathy,
clairvoyance, precognition, and psychokinesis are real
-- Shows that skepticism of psi phenomena is based more on a religion of
materialism than on hard science
Reports of psychic abilities, such as telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, and
psychokinesis, date back to the beginning of recorded human history in all
cultures. Documented, reproducible evidence exists that these abilities are
real, yet the mainstream scientific community has vehemently denied the
existence of psi phenomena for centuries. The battle over the reality of psi has
carried on in scientific academies, courtrooms, scholarly journals, newspapers,
and radio stations and has included scandals, wild accusations, ruined
reputations, as well as bizarre characters on both sides of the debate. If true
evidence exists, why then is the study of psi phenomena--parapsychology--so
controversial? And why has the controversy lasted for centuries?
Exploring the scandalous history of parapsychology and citing decades of
research, Chris Carter shows that, contrary to mainstream belief, replicable
evidence of psi phenomena exists. The controversy over parapsychology continues
not because ESP and other abilities cannot be verified but because their
existence challenges deeply held worldviews more strongly rooted in religious
and philosophical beliefs than in hard science. Carter reveals how the doctrine
of materialism--in which nothing matters but matter--has become an infallible
article of faith for many scientists and philosophers, much like the convictions
of religious fundamentalists. Consequently, the possibility of psychic abilities
cannot be tolerated because their existence would refute materialism and
contradict a deeply ingrained ideology. By outlining the origin of this
passionate debate, Carter calls on all open-minded individuals to disregard the
church of skepticism and reach their own conclusions by looking at the vast body
of evidence.
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Book Excerpt
Chapter Nine:
The Roots of Disbelief
Say this about assertions that aliens have been, are or will soon be landing on
Earth: at least a scenario like that of "Independence Day" would not violate any
laws of nature. In contrast, claims in other fringe realms, such as telepathy
and psychokinesis, are credible only if you ignore a couple or three centuries
of established science.
--Sharon Begely, "Science on the Fringe," Newsweek, July 1996
Remarks such as the one from Sharon Begely's article are common in the skeptical
literature. Such remarks are based on the assumption that the existence of psi
phenomena is somehow incompatible with fundamental, well-established scientific
principles. So, no matter what evidence the parapsychologists produce, the
skeptics stoically maintain their denial and doggedly search for any
possible counterexplanation. As we have seen, Ray Hyman has simply run out of
plausible counterexplanations, yet he refuses to accept the latest results from
a long line of experiments as conclusive. He seemed to consider himself the
spokesperson for mainstream scientists when he wrote recently in the
Skeptical Inquirer: "What seems clear is that the scientific community is
not going to abandon its fundamental ideas about causality, time and other
principles on the basis of a handful of experiments whose findings have yet to
be shown to be replicable and lawful." (At the time Hyman wrote this article
[1996] the "handful of experiments" included 61 independent Ganzfeld
experiments, 2,094 PK experiments using random event generators, and hundreds of
other experiments involving tossing dice, dream research, and remote viewing.)
Although surveys consistently show that most people either accept the reality of
ESP or have had psychic experiences themselves, remarks such as this in the
skeptical literature can give one the impression that all such phenomena are
"scientifically impossible."
But many mainstream scientists do not hold this opinion. Two surveys of more
than 500 scientists in one case and more than 1,000 in another were made in the
1970s. Both surveys found that the majority of respondents considered ESP "an
established fact" or "a likely possibility": 56 percent in one and 67 percent in
the other. Yet if most scientists are open to the possibility of psi, how can we
account for the following story?
Robert Jahn was dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science at
Princeton University and a noted authority on aerospace engineering with a long
record of work for NASA and the Department of Defense when he decided that
certain parapsychological problems were worth investigating. Did his colleagues
applaud his pioneering spirit? Not exactly. They as much as said he was crazy
and a disgrace to science and the university. The university even convened an ad
hoc committee to oversee his research--something unheard of for a scientist of
his stature.
And yet not all scientists reacted this way, as Jahn pointed out in a 1983
address to the Parapsychology Association. Referring to his Princeton
Engineering Anomalies Research program, he said, "We have had commentary on our
program from no less than six Nobel laureates, two of whom categorically reject
the topic, two of whom encouraged us to push on, and two of whom were
categorically evasive. So much for unanimity of high scientific opinion."
However, despite the willingness of many scientists to express favorable
opinions toward psi research, parapsychology courses are not routinely
taught at universities; there are only two labs conducting full-time psi
research in the United States, and only a handful of such labs in the entire
world. One explanation for this (and for Robert Jahn's experience) is that
skeptical opinions of psi seem more common among the administrative elite than
among ordinary working scientists. Sociologist Dr. James McClenon surveyed the
council and selected section committees of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 1981. He found that these scientists were more
skeptical of ESP than scientists in general, with just under 30 percent
believing that ESP was "an established fact" or "a likely possibility." Surveyed
members in the social sciences (where parapsychology courses would normally be
categorized) were even more skeptical (20 percent believers) than those in the
natural sciences (30 percent believers). Worried about the reputation of their
schools and labs, administrators seem far more reluctant to express favorable
opinions of psi research than ordinary working scientists.
The skepticism of those who run the scientific establishment is surely one
reason why, throughout its history, the resources devoted to psi research have
been extremely meager. Psychologist Sybo Schouten compared the funding directed
toward parapsychology over the one hundred years spanning 1882 to 1982 and found
that it was approximately equal to the expenditures of two months of
conventional psychological research in the United States in 1983. The other
reason funding is difficult to come by is that many private and public funding
agencies have no wish to be associated with what the skeptics call
"pseudoscience." Is it any wonder they feel this way? Not when scientific
journals continue to publish hostile attacks on the scientific validity of
parapsychology. For instance, the prominent journal Nature published the
following in a commentary by skeptical psychologist David Marks:
Parascience has all the qualities of a magical system while wearing the mantle
of science. Until any significant discoveries are made, science can justifiably
ignore it, but it is important to say why: parascience is a pseudo-scientific
system of untested beliefs steeped in illusion, error, and fraud.
Clearly then, many scientists find the claims of parapsychology disturbing. The
existence of psi implies that the minds of people can sometimes communicate,
perceive events, and influence objects without the use of the five ordinary
senses or their limbs. Science in its present state cannot explain these
phenomena. This in itself should not be a problem: there are plenty of other
phenomena that science cannot currently explain, such as consciousness, the
placebo effect, and the fact that the expansion of the universe appears to be
accelerating. But is the existence of psi in conflict with
well-established scientific principles?
*This excerpt Copyright 2012 Chris Carter, Reprinted by permission of the
publisher, Inner Traditions.
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About the Author(s) of Science and Psychic Phenomena
Chris Carter received his undergraduate and master's degrees from the University
of Oxford. The author of Science and the Near-Death Experience, Carter is
originally from Canada and currently teaches internationally.
Reviews:
Chris Carter is a one-man wrecking crew for the time-worn, tedious, petulant,
and often flimsy complaints of the die-hard skeptics. A science of consciousness
is doomed to be incomplete without taking Carter's keen insights into account."
Larry Dossey, M.D.,
author of Healing Words and The Power of Premonitions
"Carter methodically and masterfully reveals that the skeptic's position is
increasingly untenable. A refreshingly rational and well written investigation
of the science of psi."
Dean Radin, Ph.D.,
senior scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences
"Carter confronts legitimate criticism with solid scientific evidence and deftly
exposes the anti-science stand of the dogmatic skeptics. He makes a compelling
case for taking the science of parapsychology seriously. A must-read for anyone
interested in the true state of this important debate."
Richard Broughton, Ph.D.,
author of Parapsychology: The Controversial Science and senior lecturer
in psychology, The University of Northampton
"Chris Carter's Science and Psychic Phenomena is a must read for anyone
who wishes to penetrate the distortions and lies of the skeptics regarding
psychic phenomena. Clearly written, and a pleasure to read!"
Neal Grossman, Ph.D.,
professor emeritus, University of Illinois at Chicago
"The controversy surrounding psychic phenomena (psi) is both long and
complicated. Chris Carter reviews the many elements of the controversy in great
detail, but in a manner that is also readable and entertaining--a difficult
feat. I found his explanation of quantum theories of psi, for example,
exceptionally clear, and it resolved some confusion I had about these theories
from reading other sources. Carter adheres strictly to valid scientific and
philosophical principles in arguing for the reality of psi and the legitimacy of
parapsychology as a science--no retreat into New Age metaphysical mumbo
jumbo--and he doesn't overstate his case. Any reader who can approach this
controversial subject with an open mind will find Carter's book immensely
rewarding."
John Palmer, Ph.D.,
editor of Journal of Parapsychology and coauthor of Foundations of
Parapsychology
"I highly recommend this book to anyone who is truly open-minded about whether
or not psychic abilities exist. Chris Carter takes the reader on an insightful
journey that weaves together history, scientific data, modern physics,
psychology, and philosophy of science. He convincingly shows that it's now
possible to replace belief-based opinion with solid science when discussing the
possible reality of psychic phenomena."
Jessica Utts, Ph.D.,
professor of statistics, University of California, Davis, and author of An
Assessment of the Evidence for Psychic Functioning
"Chris Carter has put together quite a treatise. In thoroughly readable,
engaging, and clear prose, he provides an erudite and comprehensive review of
the skeptical and scientific studies of events that don't fit present paradigms.
Despite having researched the subject extensively myself, I found a deep well of
new information. Carter's book is both scholarly and entertaining."
Robert S. Bobrow, M.D.,
clinical associate professor of family medicine at Stony Brook University and
author of The Witch in the Waiting Room
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