The Paranormal: Research and the Quest for Meaning
✍️ Carlton, EricCurrently unavailable
This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.
In stock now — readers of this book also loved:
Eric Carlton embarks on a scholarly journey exploring society's perennial fascination with experiences that defy conventional science. Tracing the historical development of paranormal ideas from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt to the rise of modern parapsychology, Carlton examines phenomena like witchcraft, near-death experiences, and UFOs. Adopting a perspective that is both critical and open-minded, he employs case studies to illustrate theories. This insightful work ultimately posits that our engagement with the paranormal serves as a profound vehicle for humanity's fundamental search for meaning and purpose.
📝 Description: The Paranormal: Research and the Quest for Meaning
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Readers who find themselves drawn to the mysteries of the human condition will appreciate Eric Carlton’s thoughtful exploration of our enduring quest for meaning. This book is ideal for those interested in how society processes experiences that lie beyond conventional science, offering a scholarly yet accessible lens through which to view phenomena like witchcraft and near-death experiences. By tracing these ideas from ancient civilizations to modern parapsychology, Carlton provides a profound vehicle for understanding purpose. If you are someone who values critical analysis combined with open-mindedness, this work offers a rich context for your own spiritual or philosophical inquiries without demanding prior expertise in the field.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Carlton delivers a compelling scholarly journey that successfully links historical paranormal ideas to modern psychological needs. His critical yet open perspective makes complex theories accessible through engaging case studies. However, readers seeking definitive proof of supernatural phenomena or those looking for practical guides to psychic development will likely find this text unsatisfying. It is an intellectual exercise in meaning-making, not a handbook for believers or skeptics alike. The work demands patience with historical context and theoretical frameworks, making it less suitable for those preferring quick, sensationalist accounts of the occult. Ultimately, it is a thoughtful contribution to understanding why we look to the inexplicable.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you seek to understand *why* we believe in the unseen, rather than just *what* is believed, this scholarly journey is for you. It's for those who appreciate a thoughtful, critical, and expansive look at the human experience of the inexplicable, offering intellectual depth over sensationalism.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Societal Role of the Paranormal
Carlton investigates how belief in the paranormal functions within different societies. He explores whether it acts as a form of mass hysteria, a psychological coping mechanism, or even a spiritual alternative to traditional religion, positioning these beliefs as integral to human cultural and psychological landscapes across history.
Historical Evolution of Belief
The book meticulously charts the progression of ideas related to the paranormal through various epochs. From the mystical traditions of ancient civilizations to the Enlightenment's skepticism and the subsequent emergence of scientific inquiry into the unexplained, Carlton provides a comprehensive historical context for these enduring beliefs.
Academic Parapsychology's Rise
Carlton details the journey of parapsychology from the fringes of scientific inquiry to its current, recognized academic standing. He analyzes how the study of psychic phenomena and other anomalies has evolved within scholarly circles, highlighting the methodologies and debates that have shaped its development as a legitimate field of research.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Paranormal
- Parapsychology
- Mass hysteria
📔 Questions to reflect on
- How do you personally reconcile scientific understanding with experiences that defy easy explanation, and what role does 'meaning' play in this reconciliation?
- In what ways might belief in the paranormal serve a function in contemporary society, even for those who do not actively believe?
- Reflect on a time you encountered something seemingly inexplicable. How did you process it, and did it alter your perspective on reality or meaning?
📖 Read on the blog
📖 From the series “Routledge Revivals”
All books in the series →
✍️ More books by this author Carlton, Eric
All books by this author →🏛 Books from this publisher Routledge
All books from this publisher →
You might also like
See more →
Have a question about this item?
Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.
