Science depends on experimentation and analysis in order to gather evidence. In addition, every field of science involves the review of literature that was previously produced in order to further advance the knowledge within the field.
For the professed skeptics on this site, are you a denier or a scientist who is skeptical of parapsychology research? Have you reviewed the scientific journals and scholarly research on parapsychology, or are you relying on secondary sources and popular skeptical literature to form your opinions?
Finally, if you consider yourself a true scientist, have you ever considered submitting your crticisms to a peer reviewed journal on parapsychology? Why or why not?
kandinskys2008-09-21T00:57:37Z
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I'm simply a skeptic. I question popular ideas and assertions and require evidence. I question my own beliefs and motivations constantly. I am open minded and try to avoid the mental ossification that begins when people define themselves to keenly. I'm neither believer or denier.
I haven't reviewed many journals since my psychology degree days. I know that there are ongoing serious studies into parapsychology. No studies as yet have provided anything more than a suggestion of something unusual. When they do, there are usually questions regarding the validity of the tests or they cannot be replicated.
I'm more grounded in the Arts than science; I teach. There are far sharper people than me with the time and the resources to submit articles for or against parapsychology issues. T.R. is clearly one of them. A skeptic is a neutral entity, I fail to see how so many people see us as having an agenda to spoil their beliefs.
It's on my short list of books to read, though I already know a bit about the book from reading excerpts and reviews. Carter talks of skeptics in the form of organized skepticism, seemingly with the more extreme forms of skepticism, and props this up as a strawman to be dismantled. I think this is unfortunate, and I would more appreciate a book that deals with skepticism as it exists within the realm of the scientific method and which examines parapsychology through that lens instead. Besides, it's a logical fallacy to think that debunking the position of Skeptic Joe or Skeptic Bob does anything to bolster the position of the parapsychologist. It's a mistake to treat it as an either-or binary situation. I don't know how Carter examines the claims of parapsychology, but since this book is an argument for parapsychology as a legitimate study of real phenomena, I suspect he goes no deeper than the summarizing the various conclusions of parapsychology studies. If so, that would be truly disappointing since it is the methodology, execution and data analysis of these parapsychology studies which is the crux to establishing the claims of parapsychology. I need to read it to offer any more of an opinion on it than that. Interesting question. I've got a vacation in Mexico coming up and maybe that's a book I can take with me :)
I am only a retired nurse but feel qualified to answer. I don't believe doctors always have access to reviews and get caught up with corporate agendas. Some are unwilling to try due to personal religious beliefs - some only follow the advice of their peers internally - then there are those who will take the challenge to go beyond. Culture and locality can also play into it.
I lived on the West coast when I started as a nurse and we were using all the newest techniques in hemo dialysis.When I moved to the midwest -they were terrified and unwilling to try anything I was teaching them. It was really frustrating and took years before they finally caught up -
This is a simple example. But this scenario also applies in the lab as I have worked there too. Everything has to follow protocol.
Don't get me wrong everyone is interested,but many will not say so. They went to college a lot of years and to have a career ruined because they admit to even being curious about paranormal is not worth it to most.
This is why most who study and practice parapsychology have to branch out on their own. They don't have the funding to do more and there are hardly any schools which delve into it appropriately. Again -religion, money and support influences the progress.
To finally answer your question - I am skeptical of everything but always curious and willing to learn new stuff.
I'm not a scientist,just a consumer and student of it's results.I am skeptical of parapsychology and can't say I have read all the journals and Research.I have read quite a bit and done quite a lot of Research on my own.Here's what I'd need to change my mind.A psychic actually predict an event.A telekinetic move an object.An astral projector bring back a message from another room.I have to tell you,I don't believe any of those are unreasonable requests.If you disagree,what is unreasonable about them?
Tunsa, yes I do peruse the parapsychology journals (I don't have access to all of them) and participate on the editorial review board of one. The one I'm on the ed board of would certainly be receptive to an article from me, but the others are not quite so much. I presently have 3 articles in progress for submission in other science journals (I'm a scientist by profession).