The Paranormal (Where is it now?)

by George Jelliss , Crewe, Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 14:10 (5580 days ago) @ dhw

DHW: Firstly, "anecdotes". If three eyewitnesses identify X as the bank robber, I doubt if even the Counsel for Defence will object that they can't prove scientifically that X was there. With certain provisos, we accept eyewitness accounts as evidence in a court of law. - There have been cases of many people witnessing supernatural events. This is not sufficent evidence of their occurrence. Mass hysteria cannot be ruled out. Independent evidence is needed before the conclusion can be called "scientific" - DHW: There are countless "anecdotes" of NDEs and other experiences ... in which there are witnesses to corroborate the accuracy of the information relayed. - You and DT keep claiming that, but you don't actually come up with solid examples. None of those I have ever read about has been at all convincing, and can be easily explained. - DHW: Do some people's faculties and senses extend beyond the range of what most of us consider to be "normal"? If so, what are the implications? I hope George won't mind if I quote one of his most memorable comments, in a different context, from a post on Atheism (21 August at 18.13): "What does it mean to talk about something "beyond the natural, physical world"? If it is something we can sense in some way, perhaps using special hitherto undeveloped senses, then surely it must be natural or physical." - As I've said earlier the discovery of any such senses (say reception of "psionic waves") would be a major scientific discovery. None of the results hitherto published come anywhere near, say the findings of Micxhael Faraday on electromagnetism. That is the sort of breakthrough that would be necessary to take these things seriously. As it is they are just material for fantasy fiction. - DHW: If you are totally convinced that nobody has ever obtained information in the manner David and BBella have described, then let's end the discussion, but perhaps you might consider the possibility that some alleys may only seem blind because people keep their eyes closed. - On the other hand, some people are determined to see things that aren't there!

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GPJ