Parapsychology in the Twenty-First Century: Essays on the Future of Psychical Research
✍️ Michael A Thalbourne, Lance StormA collection of academic essays exploring the scientific future, theories, and methods of parapsychology.
This 387-page academic volume from McFarland & Company compiles research essays on the challenges facing twenty-first-century parapsychology. Drawing on experimental designs, linguistic analysis, and phenomenological inquiry, the contributors investigate subject matter ranging from forced-choice ESP testing to the mind-matter problem. Michael A. Thalbourne and Lance Storm organize the material to evaluate theoretical paradigms like psychopraxia alongside sociological analyses of skepticism. It offers academic analysis for researchers and disciplined students of psychical phenomena.
Published by McFarland & Company in January 2005, this volume emerges from researchers affiliated with the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at the University of Adelaide in South Australia. It reflects twenty-first-century academic efforts to establish parapsychology as a recognized scientific field.
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📝 Description: Parapsychology in the Twenty-First Century: Essays on the Future of Psychical Research
📑 What's inside
- Foreword
- Preface
- I. GENERAL ISSUES
- 1. What's Ahead?
- 2. Parapsychology in the Twenty-First Century
- 3. The Farther Reaches of Psi Research: Future Choices and Possibilities
- II. EXPERIMENTAL ISSUES
- 4. Psi and Altered States of Consciousness
- 5. The Ball Drawing Test: Psi From Untrodden Ground
- 6. Forced-Choice ESP Experiments: Their Past and Their Future
- III. THEORETICAL ISSUES
- 7. The Future of Psi Research: Recommendations in Retrospect
- 8. The Theory of Psychopraxia: A Paradigm for the Future?
- 9. A Critique of the Theory of Psychopraxia
- 10. Tackling the Mind-Matter Problem from a Consciousness Perspective
- 11. Subjective Anomalous Events: Perspectives for the Future, Voices from the Past
- IV. SOCIOLOGICAL AND PHENOMENOLOGICAL ISSUES
- 12. A Socioempirical Perspective on Skepticism about Psi
- 13. Language and the Study of Parapsychological Phenomena
- 14. The Ritual Healing Theory: Hypotheses for Psychical Research
- 15. Experiential Research: Unveiling Psi Through Phenomenological Enquiry
- About the Contributors
- Index
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
This book serves as a vital resource for scholars, researchers, and intellectually curious readers who are fascinated by the intersection of science and the paranormal. It is specifically designed for those who seek to understand the complex institutional resistance faced by parapsychology despite its robust evidentiary foundation. Readers interested in the sociology of science or the historical struggle for academic acceptance will find this collection compelling. It offers a clear vision for the future of the field, making it essential for anyone advocating for rigorous investigation into psychic abilities and enigmatic human experiences without dismissing scientific standards.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Thalbourne and Storm provide a dense, argumentative collection that demands patience from its audience. While it effectively articulates the paradox of parapsychology’s institutional marginalization, it is not suitable for casual readers seeking accessible pop-science or supernatural entertainment. Those looking for simple answers or sensationalist ghost stories will find this work too academic and resistant in tone. It is best appreciated by those already familiar with the field's debates who desire a structured defense of its scientific legitimacy and a forward-looking perspective on how to overcome current scholarly barriers.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you are a student, researcher, or curious individual interested in the scientific exploration of psychic phenomena, the nature of consciousness, or the challenges faced by emerging scientific fields, this book offers a critical and forward-thinking perspective.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Scientific Legitimacy
The book meticulously examines why parapsychology, despite accumulating substantial empirical data over decades, has yet to achieve widespread recognition within mainstream science. Essays propose new methodologies and conceptual frameworks to solidify its standing as a credible, evidence-based field of inquiry.
Future of Research
Looking ahead, contributors outline innovative directions for psychical research, suggesting novel experimental designs, theoretical models, and interdisciplinary approaches. The focus is on pushing beyond traditional paradigms to uncover deeper understandings of consciousness and its interaction with the physical world.
Overcoming Skepticism
A central theme addresses the persistent resistance and skepticism encountered by parapsychological studies. The essays analyze the societal and academic barriers, offering strategies and arguments to counter preconceived notions and encourage an open-minded, evidence-driven assessment of psychic phenomena.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Parapsychology
- Psychical Research
- Psi phenomena
📔 Questions to reflect on
- What institutional or societal biases might contribute to the resistance against parapsychological research, and how might these be addressed?
- If parapsychology were fully accepted as a mainstream scientific field, what ethical considerations or practical applications do you foresee emerging?
- Reflect on a personal experience or observation that aligns with or challenges the concepts discussed in parapsychology. How would a scientific framework approach it?
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