Article The rise and fall of parapsychology

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https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/...sychology/

EXCERPT: More than 130 years after the term parapsychology was coined, there is no proof of the existence of parapsychological phenomena. Compare this to the progress of biology, physics, chemistry, and other sciences.

Therefore, today, we do not know what psi is, if it is anything at all. Is it some kind of energy? If so, what kind of energy is it? Nobody knows. No scientific instrument has ever detected such “energy.”

Other experiences, such as near-death experiences, out-of-body experiences, dowsing, etc., have been associated with psi phenomena. The first two have explanations provided by neuroscience. The last one persists in the inconsistency of its results, as parapsychological experiments do.

In short, parapsychological research has fallen into decline from what once promised to be a cutting-edge science. And yet, a few researchers, increasingly fewer in number, insist on holding onto the hope of obtaining some proof that psi phenomena are a reality... (MORE - missing details)

[Syne]

Some people will never let go of their pseudo-religious beliefs.

[Magical Realist]

I'm always amused how the skeptics begin by making the absolute truth claim that there's no proof for such and such:

More than 130 years after the term parapsychology was coined, there is no proof of the existence of parapsychological phenomena.

I personally haven't been following the progress of scientific research into parapsychology over the past 25 years. My general conclusion there is that it's not going to be very decisive or conclusive for the reason that paranormal phenomenon does not happen on cue and is hardly ever repeatable. As mentioned in the article, J. B.Rhine's experiments pretty much demonstrated that.

OTOH, my certainty of the reality of such is so strong now due to the explosion of field research into the phenomena since the 2000's that it cannot be denied except with some dogmatic loyalty to the modern skeptical movement. The internet itself, as well as television documentaries, is a rich source of investigations into the paranormal, providing thousands of stunning examples of filmed paranormal phenomena happening all over the planet. As far as esp or telepathy goes, that remains largely a matter of overwhelming anecdotal though first-hand accounts which are also now easily accessible online.

In my own personal life the phenomenon of synchronicity is so persistent though unpredictable that I know for a fact it is happening as well to many others, demonstrating some sort of timeless property of the human mind. So again, another crybaby screed from club skeptic, from a bunch of out-of-touch old codgers recycling sophomoric arguments trying to boost subscriptions to their failing magazines and websites. Meh..If there's no evidence, why are they still in business so valiantly fighting it?

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[...] I personally haven't been following the progress of scientific research into parapsychology over the past 25 years. My general conclusion there is that it's not going to be very decisive or conclusive for the reason that paranormal phenomenon does not happen on cue and is hardly ever repeatable. [...]

Doomed from the outset, since a science discipline entails construing its area of study as conforming to principles (predictable) and events that can be replicated. Which would be just the opposite of genuine anomalies and miracles (glitches in the Matrix).

Some of these, though (if real) would be amenable to probability/coincidence and pareidolia rather than disruption of natural ordination (albeit still unreliable as to when they occur): https://www.thescroller.net/15601/25-eer...efy-logic/

[Syne]

The internet itself, as well as television documentaries, is a rich source of investigations into the paranormal...

Then it must be true. The internet and TV said so.

9_9

[Magical Realist]

The internet itself, as well as television documentaries, is a rich source of investigations into the paranormal...

Then it must be true. The internet and TV said so.

9_9

You never watched documentaries before? Do you really think they are faked?