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A History of Parapsychology
Lecture 3
Parapsychology
Kevin Silber
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An Overview
In this lecture we will cover:
Antiquity and spiritualism Psychical research begins
Move towards controlled studies
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Antiquity
Greek and Roman clairvoyance and dreams - from the gods,
but some (Aristotle) - function of mind;
Oracle (institutionalized psychic reader)common,
e.g., Delphi - King Croesus of Lydiasinvasion of Persia.
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Judaeo-Christian
many biblical accounts of psi,
including clairvoyant and precognitivedreams,apparitions, visions, mediums.
Prospero - 18th Centuryobservations through study
Not limited to religious devotees
All kinds of people
Not divine or demonic agencies
Innate capabilities.
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Naturalistic Approach
Based around natural phenomena -magnetism and electricity
Mesmer (1778) magnetized patients.
Some went into a trance/sleep.
On waking psychic phenomenadreams, hearing instructions. Healing.
Did not invoke spirits a naturalcapability.
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More Spiritualism
Movement spread (particularly in US).
Many mediums.
Writing on slates, voices, clairvoyantdiagnoses, table tipping.
Faraday test - wooden platform (on
rollers) on table moved first, somuscular.
But=>ouija board.
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D.D. Home
US mediums arrival in Britain, 1859
(year of Origin of Species.
Many PK activists (spiritualism notevoked).
Incorporation of PK within seances.
=>consolidate paranormal phenomena.
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Psychical Research
Society for Psychical Research (SPR) startedin Cambridge, 1882.
Physicists and spiritualistsbut spiritualists left.Very unpopular but a number of prominentmembers (professors, Fellows of RoyalSociety).
Investigate wide range of phenomena (ESP
and communication with spirits). Davey a medium - using distraction.
Personal accounts and photos
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Group Captain Victor Goddard kept this rather strange picture. The photo was taken following the last mission ofthis group. In the photo appears the face of an airman who was killed several days before the photo was taken,when he walked into the rotating propellor of a plane.
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1900-1930
Work with mediums, e.g., Leonara Piperinvestigated for use of trance voice andautomatic voices.
In spite of precautions no evidence offraud.
So? At least ESP.
Control personalities relationship withpsychiatry?
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Survival research
Purpose of SPR not purely scientific.
Shaken by Darwin.
Survival of spirit. How to verify?
Cross correspondence.
But not clear so declining research insurvival.
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Physical Manifestations
Marthe Berauad (1905) ectoplasmappearance. But in test conditions withRichet minimal
Stella Cranshaw (1925) and RudiScheider (1930). Strict conditions =>manifestations.
Also hauntings and poltergeists
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The Modern Era
J.B. Rhine
Scientific Investigation - systematic
(Stats from Fisher) Duke Uni Labs (then Rhine Research
Center)
Focus on ordinary people J of Parapsychology (1937).
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Media - The return of Stars
Yuri Geller
David Blaine
Derren Brown Mediums
http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/M/mindcontrol/video/index.h
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