The Paranormal (Where is it now?)

by George Jelliss , Crewe, Thursday, January 22, 2009, 10:51 (5783 days ago) @ dhw

The quantitative evidence for dark matter consists in calculations, using the equations of gravitational theory, which indicates that some extra gravity is needed to hold galaxies together. Similarly dark energy relates to a parameter, known as the cosmic conatant, in Einstein's general theory of relativity. This is what I understand by "quantitative" evidence. The value of the cosmic constant can now be calculated more precisely, thanks to the WMAP data on the background radiation. - What DHW calls "quantitative evidence" for paranormal events is mere statistics of opinion polls. What I would call quantititative evidence of, say, thought waves would be some measure of their intensity. What we have in fact is a complete absence of reproducible experiments. - OK the blue house was also "surrounded by trees". But if they were living in a treeless area any move would statistically be to a more tree-ful area. How surrounded did it need to be? Deep in the forest, or just in a tree-lined avenue? OK they had no intention of moving. Neither did I a few months ago. Things happen. If the move hadn't happened, and nothing in the story had matched the reality, would the boy's fanciful dream have been remembered? - DHW says: The little boy dreamed of something he could not possibly have known beforehand. - Correct. That's because he didn't know of it beforehand. Some dreams come true, some don't. We remember those that do.

--
GPJ