Much skepticism exists around the subject of psychic phenomena,
and this is probably not a bad thing, given its very checkered
past. Fake mediums, bogus mind readers, magic tricks passed off
as the real thing. The list goes on.
and this is probably not a bad thing, given its very checkered
past. Fake mediums, bogus mind readers, magic tricks passed off
as the real thing. The list goes on.
Hence, the use of Science should be welcomed in helping to verify
some of the psychic community's claims.
some of the psychic community's claims.
However, this can also become unhealthy for several reasons, and
it is equally important to stand guard against these flaws. They
too are all too common.
it is equally important to stand guard against these flaws. They
too are all too common.
(1) Biased scientists.
The sad truth is that the field of psychic investigation, with only
very rare exceptions, fails to excite or attract the very
scientific brains. Career-wise, the field of psychic investigation is
extremely badly funded, is nearly impossible to make a solid,
respected career in, and is the source of endless derision from
mainstream scientists and diehard skeptics.
very rare exceptions, fails to excite or attract the very
scientific brains. Career-wise, the field of psychic investigation is
extremely badly funded, is nearly impossible to make a solid,
respected career in, and is the source of endless derision from
mainstream scientists and diehard skeptics.
Therefore, there is always gigantic pressure upon
psychic researchers to justify their own existence. At the end of
the day, they have to find something, somewhere! If, from start
to finish, their careers consisted solely of disproving every
single psychic experience that they were presented with, they
would quickly give up the psychic investigation field from
sheer boredom or depression. After all, from a purely personal
standpoint, why bother? Hence, most of them are intrinsically
believers to start with. To put it bluntly, the probability is
high that they possess a strong in-built bias in place.
psychic researchers to justify their own existence. At the end of
the day, they have to find something, somewhere! If, from start
to finish, their careers consisted solely of disproving every
single psychic experience that they were presented with, they
would quickly give up the psychic investigation field from
sheer boredom or depression. After all, from a purely personal
standpoint, why bother? Hence, most of them are intrinsically
believers to start with. To put it bluntly, the probability is
high that they possess a strong in-built bias in place.
This is not to imply that they would fake results. However, we
must be aware that, by their very existence in this much maligned
field, there is an invisible pressure upon these people to
produce something to validate their own existence. Hence, this
sort of science is extremely difficult to maintain in a totally
objective manner.
must be aware that, by their very existence in this much maligned
field, there is an invisible pressure upon these people to
produce something to validate their own existence. Hence, this
sort of science is extremely difficult to maintain in a totally
objective manner.
Regular academic scientists are always under pressure to justify
their funding through their results. How much worse then for
scientists who, for the most part, have no funding, and who are
often the laughing stock of the scientific community?
their funding through their results. How much worse then for
scientists who, for the most part, have no funding, and who are
often the laughing stock of the scientific community?
For all of these reasons, the profession of psychic investigation
cannot and will not attract the very finest minds, at least not
at the present times. This is not intended to be an snub to
scientists involved in the field. It is just reality. The very
best will tend to gravitate towards "safe" fields where their
skill will be recognized, and not derided and scoffed at.
cannot and will not attract the very finest minds, at least not
at the present times. This is not intended to be an snub to
scientists involved in the field. It is just reality. The very
best will tend to gravitate towards "safe" fields where their
skill will be recognized, and not derided and scoffed at.
It is a pity, but that is just how the world works at present.
(2) The inadequacy of Science.
The scientific method has served mankind extremely well, but it
has its limits. It cannot do everything.
has its limits. It cannot do everything.
Hence, we must be circumspect of trying to apply scientific methods
where they may not work well at all. Such is the manner in which
science has been elevated to a religion in our world, this
statement might seem almost absurd.
where they may not work well at all. Such is the manner in which
science has been elevated to a religion in our world, this
statement might seem almost absurd.
Yet, there are clear occasions where science cannot measure
anything. You cannot measure the emotions of love or anger with
scientific instruments. Yet, few would doubt that they exist.
anything. You cannot measure the emotions of love or anger with
scientific instruments. Yet, few would doubt that they exist.
You cannot use instruments to provide a printout of what somebody
is thinking. Yet, nobody would deny that they DO think, and they
very often think in words.
is thinking. Yet, nobody would deny that they DO think, and they
very often think in words.
You cannot prove scientifically that there are NO toy airplanes
in orbit around the planet Venus! It might sound absurd, but
no matter how much you search for them and fail to find them, you
CANNOT PROVE that they are not there. You can only say that you
have not found one YET, and that it is extremely unlikely that
they exist. You might be able to say that with 99.99999999%
certainty. But you can NEVER say it with 100% certainty.
in orbit around the planet Venus! It might sound absurd, but
no matter how much you search for them and fail to find them, you
CANNOT PROVE that they are not there. You can only say that you
have not found one YET, and that it is extremely unlikely that
they exist. You might be able to say that with 99.99999999%
certainty. But you can NEVER say it with 100% certainty.
Science cannot "prove" a negative.
Thus, in the realm of psychic manifestations, science cannot
categorically insist that there is no such thing. You CANNOT
PROVE that ghosts do not exist, for instance. You can only say
that, to date, there has been no conclusive proof that they DO.
That is NOT the same as saying that they do NOT.
categorically insist that there is no such thing. You CANNOT
PROVE that ghosts do not exist, for instance. You can only say
that, to date, there has been no conclusive proof that they DO.
That is NOT the same as saying that they do NOT.
In addition, the scientific method itself has limitations that
psychic manifestations would definitely stretch. In science,
something has to be repeatable for it to have any validity. In
other words, other scientists have to be able to repeat your
process and get exactly the same results.
psychic manifestations would definitely stretch. In science,
something has to be repeatable for it to have any validity. In
other words, other scientists have to be able to repeat your
process and get exactly the same results.
However, this is almost certainly doomed to failure in the
psychic realm. Imagine repeating your experiment in a haunted
house and DEMANDING that the phantom appear on cue, just because
you are performing the same experiment!
psychic realm. Imagine repeating your experiment in a haunted
house and DEMANDING that the phantom appear on cue, just because
you are performing the same experiment!
If, by its very nature, a experience is extremely rare and
unpredictable in nature, it is very hard to use Science to say
much about it at all.
unpredictable in nature, it is very hard to use Science to say
much about it at all.
