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Lectures on Psychical Research (Routledge Revivals): Incorporating the Perrott Lectures Given in Cambridge University in 1959 and 1960 — Mysticism

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Lectures on Psychical Research (Routledge Revivals): Incorporating the Perrott Lectures Given in Cambridge University in 1959 and 1960

Name: Lectures on Psychical Research (Routledge Revivals): Incorporating the Perrott Lectures Given in Cambridge University in 1959 and 1960
Price: 54.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780415610865

✍️ Broad, C D

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

First published in 1962, this essential volume compiles Professor C.D. Broad's insightful lectures delivered at Cambridge University in 1959 and 1960. It offers a sophisticated, philosophical examination of what is commonly termed 'psychical research' – the systematic, scientific investigation into phenomena that appear to transcend conventional understanding. Broad meticulously dissects various facets of psychical theory, delving into specific instances such as extrasensory perception, hallucinatory experiences that border on the real, and the complex mechanics of trance-mediumship. This work provides a structured, academic lens through which to explore the ostensibly inexplicable.

Broad, C D

📚 all books by this author (3) →

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Mysticism

🏛 Routledge 📅 2012 📖 464 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780415610865

Fun Fact

C.D. Broad's 'Lectures on Psychical Research' is a cornerstone for anyone serious about the academic study of the paranormal. It masterfully applies a philosopher's incisive intellect to phenomena often dismissed outright, providing a rigorous framework for analysis. While not a book for the casually curious or those seeking sensational tales, it offers unparalleled depth for scholars, students, and critical thinkers interested in the historical and philosophical underpinnings of parapsychology. It's a testament to intellectual curiosity at its finest, a significant contribution to the field's early academic legitimacy.

📝 Description: Lectures on Psychical Research (Routledge Revivals): Incorporating the Perrott Lectures Given in Cambridge University in 1959 and 1960

This book, first published in 1962, is based on a series of lectures first given at Cambridge University in 1959 and 1960, dealing with 'psychical research' - i.e. the scientific investigation of ostensibly paranormal phenomena. Split into three sections, Professor Broad's study examines numerous issues relating to psychical theory, including guessing, hallucinatory quasi-perception and trance-mediumship.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Broad delivers a masterclass in philosophical detachment, dissecting psychical phenomena with surgical precision rather than emotional fervor. This is not a book for those seeking spiritual comfort or supernatural validation; it is strictly for the analytical mind. Readers looking for easy answers or dramatic ghost stories will find this dry and overly dense. It demands patience and a strong appetite for abstract theory. However, for those willing to engage with its sophisticated arguments, it offers unparalleled clarity on the mechanics of the paranormal, making it a vital resource for serious scholars despite its lack of accessibility.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is essential for the intellectually curious skeptic or the philosophically inclined believer who seeks a grounded, non-sensationalist approach to the paranormal. Readers who appreciate the meticulous dissection of complex ideas will find Broad's work invaluable. It serves those tired of vague mysticism, offering instead a sophisticated framework for understanding extrasensory perception and trance-mediumship through an academic lens. If you desire clarity and structure when exploring the inexplicable, this text provides the rigorous intellectual scaffolding necessary to navigate these contentious topics with dignity and precision, transforming curiosity into informed analysis.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're seeking a serious, intellectual engagement with the paranormal, rather than sensational anecdotes, this book is for you. Ideal for philosophers, parapsychologists, or anyone interested in the historical academic study of extraordinary human experiences.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Broad delivers a masterclass in philosophical detachment, dissecting psychical phenomena with surgical precision rather than emotional fervor. This is not a book for those seeking spiritual comfort or supernatural validation; it is strictly for the analytical mind. Readers looking for easy answers or dramatic ghost stories will find this dry and overly dense. It demands patience and a strong appetite for abstract theory. However, for those willing to engage with its sophisticated arguments, it offers unparalleled clarity on the mechanics of the paranormal, making it a vital resource for serious scholars despite its lack of accessibility.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Not explicitly. Broad approaches the subject with a critical, philosophical eye, aiming to analyze and understand the phenomena rather than simply prove their existence or advocate for specific spiritual interpretations. It's an inquiry, not an evangelism.

Broad's 'scientific investigation' is primarily philosophical and analytical, drawing on logic, epistemology, and the critical evaluation of evidence, rather than purely experimental laboratory work. He dissects the concepts and implications of psychical phenomena.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Academic Rigor Applied

Broad champions a methodical, philosophical approach to phenomena often relegated to the sensational or superstitious. He demonstrates how academic tools of logic and critical analysis can be brought to bear on experiences like telepathy, precognition, and spirit communication, seeking understanding rather than immediate belief or dismissal.

Categorizing Anomalous Experiences

The book meticulously classifies and examines various types of psychical events. From the subtle nuances of 'guessing' that defies probability to the vivid, internal experiences of 'hallucinatory quasi-perception,' and the profound altered states of 'trance-mediumship,' Broad provides a framework for understanding these disparate manifestations.

Foundations of Psychical Theory

Beyond mere description, Broad endeavors to construct a coherent theoretical scaffolding for psychical phenomena. He explores the conceptual challenges involved in integrating these experiences into a broader understanding of mind and reality, prompting readers to reconsider established scientific and philosophical boundaries.

📜 Historical context

Emerging from lectures given at a prestigious university in the late 1950s, Broad's work reflects a period when psychical research, though often controversial, was still considered a legitimate field of philosophical and scientific inquiry by some prominent academics. It stands as a bridge between earlier spiritualist investigations and modern parapsychology, emphasizing critical thought over credulity.

📚 Glossary

Psychical Research
Quasi-perception
Trance-mediumship

📔 Questions to reflect on

How does a purely philosophical approach to psychical phenomena differ from a purely scientific one, and what are the strengths and weaknesses of each?
Consider Broad's examination of 'hallucinatory quasi-perception.' How might our understanding of consciousness be expanded if we accept these experiences as genuine, albeit non-physical, perceptions?
If trance-mediumship were definitively proven, what would be the most profound implications for our understanding of identity, death, and the nature of reality itself?