| Author | Title | Pag |
|---|
| | | Invited Essay | | Henry H. BAUER | Arguments Over Anomalies: II. Polemics | 1-14 | | | Abstract: Arguments over different anomalies have common elements.
An awareness of those commonalities can be useful in considering the
possible reality of a particular anomaly. As in all arguments, beliefs and not
facts are at issue; but the participants do not recognize that, and so red
henings abound and opponents are not persuaded. Again as in all disputes,
the longer the disagreement persists, the more polarized the issue becomes,
which further encourages the antagonists to become preoccupied with irrelevancies. Within science, disputes are to some degree constrained by the
existence of a widely shared paradigm and by widely accepted conventions,
supported by entrenched institutions and by consensus over how and when
disputes become settled; but arguments over anomalies are not so constrained: they are messy and may continue long after they-on purely
epistemic grounds-"should". Insofar as arguments over anomalies take
place in the public domain, they involve not only proponents and opponents but also pundits and an audience; however, a purported pundit may
behave more like a disbeliever (or, more rarely, like a proponent). Some
features of these arguments result from the fact that the believers are
usually amateurs (though they commonly include a few maverick experts
in the presumptively relevant fields of mainstream science). Although most
of the experts tend to be disbelievers or at least non-believers in a given
anomaly, the converse is by no means true-most of the disbelievers have
little or no expertise in related areas, and they may not even be particularly
knowledgeable about the given anomaly. Typically, both sides claim that
the evidence is already conclusive when-virtually by definition-it is evidently not. Believers tend to close ranks, even with quite unwelcome bedfellows, for fear that their subject will seem even less respectable if the
existence of frauds or hoaxes or incompetence becomes widely known; and
that enhances the tendency for outsiders to view the believers as unanimous on all major points, which is anything but true. Both sides (and also
the pundits) typically appeal to the authority of science; and typically they
misunderstand the nature of science. Also characteristic of these arguments
is ignorance of matters that (but only by hindsight) are highly relevant. |
| | Robert G. JAHN | Anomalies: Analysis and Aesthetics | 15-26 | | | Abstract: In properly allying itself with traditional scientific tenets and
procedures, anomalies research also risks encumbrance by scientific stodginess, scientific segregation, and scientific secularity. In particular, the contemporary rejection by established science of its own metaphysical heritage
and essence precludes its further evolution into physical and biological
domains where consciousness plays demonstrably active roles. Some orderly rapprochement of subjective and objective experience and representation within the scientific paradigm will be required to make it effective in such arenas. |
| | Carlos S. ALVARADO | Trends in the study of Out-of-Body Experiences: An Overview of Developments Since the Nineteenth Century | 27-42 | | | Abstract: -A review of conceptual and research trends in the literature on
out-of-body experiences is presented for the period of mid-nineteenth century to 1987. The discussion emphasizes psychological, psychiatric, and
parapsychological publications. The material shows recurrent topics, but
there are also some differences, particularly regarding more detailed conceptual discussions and a higher frequency of research projects in recent
times. Systematic research and testable theories have been presented
mainly in the last two decades. This may be related to the revival of interest
in cognitive variables and altered states of consciousness in psychology
during the same time period. |
| | William BRAUD, Marilyn SCHLITZ | A Methodology for the Objective Study of Transpersonal Imagery | 43-63 | | | Abstract: Abundant methodologies already exist for the study ofpreverbal
imagery, in which one's imagery acts upon one's own cellular, biochemical,
and physiological activity. This paper reports a new methodology for the
objective study of transpersonal imagery, in which one person's imagery
may influence the physical reactions of another person. The method involves the instructed generation of specific imagery by one person and the
concurrent measurement of psychophysiological changes in another person who is isolated in a distant room to eliminate all conventional sensorimotor communication. Thirteen experiments were conducted using this
methodology. A significant relationship was found between the calming or
activating imagery of one person and the electrodermal activity of another
person who was isolated at a distance (overall z = 4.08, p = .000023, mean
effect size = 0.29). Potential artifacts which might account for the results
are considered and discounted. The findings demonstrate reliable and relatively robust anomalous interactions between living systems at a distance.
The effects may be interpreted as instances of an anomalous "causal"
influence by one person directly upon the physiological activity of another
person. An alternative interpretation is one of an anomalous informational
process, combined with unconscious physiological self-regulation on the
part of the influenced person. Additional research is being conducted in an
attempt to increase our understanding of the processes involved, as well as
to learn the various physical, physiological and psychological factors that
may increase or decrease the likelihood of occurrence of the effect |
| | Dean RADIN, Jessica UTTS | Experiments Investigating the Influence of Intention on Random and Pseudorandom Events | 65-79 | | | Abstract: Eight of 27 experiments using a random event generator provided statistical evidence supporting a claimed correlation between intention and the distribution of random events. Twelve control tests produced
results conforming closely to chance expectation. |
| | Ian STEVENSON, Satwant PASRICHA, Nicholas McCLEAN-RICE | A Case of the Possession Type in India With Evidence of Paranormal Knowledge | 81-101 | | | Abstract: A young married woman, Sumitra, in a village of northern
India, apparently died and then revived. After a period of confusion she
stated that she was one Shiva who had been murdered in another village.
She gave enough details to permit verification of her statements, which
corresponded to facts in the life of another young married woman called
Shiva. Shiva had lived in a place about 100 km away, and she had died
violently there-either by suicide or murder-about two months before
Sumitra's apparent death and revival. Subsequently, Sumitra recognized
23 persons (in person or in photographs) known to Shiva. She also showed
in several respects new behavior that accorded with Shiva's personality and
attainments. For example, Shiva's family were Brahmins (high caste),
whereas Sumitra's were Thakurs (second caste); after the change in her
personality Sumitra showed Brahmin habits that were strange in her family. Extensive interviews with 53 informants satisfied the investigators that
the families concerned had been, as they claimed, completely unknown to
each other before the case developed and that Sumitra had had no normal
knowledge of the people and events in Shiva's life. The authors conclude
that the subject demonstrated knowledge of another person's life obtained
paranormally. |
| | Ian STEVENSON, Satwant PASRICHA, Nicholas McCLEAN-RICE | A Case of the Possession Type in India With Evidence of Paranormal Knowledge | 81-101 | | | Abstract: A young married woman, Sumitra, in a village of northern
India, apparently died and then revived. After a period of confusion she
stated that she was one Shiva who had been murdered in another village.
She gave enough details to permit verification of her statements, which
corresponded to facts in the life of another young married woman called
Shiva. Shiva had lived in a place about 100 km away, and she had died
violently there-either by suicide or murder-about two months before
Sumitra's apparent death and revival. Subsequently, Sumitra recognized
23 persons (in person or in photographs) known to Shiva. She also showed
in several respects new behavior that accorded with Shiva's personality and
attainments. For example, Shiva's family were Brahmins (high caste),
whereas Sumitra's were Thakurs (second caste); after the change in her
personality Sumitra showed Brahmin habits that were strange in her family. Extensive interviews with 53 informants satisfied the investigators that
the families concerned had been, as they claimed, completely unknown to
each other before the case developed and that Sumitra had had no normal
knowledge of the people and events in Shiva's life. The authors conclude
that the subject demonstrated knowledge of another person's life obtained
paranormally. |
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Collection: Libriufo
