Book: Science and the Paranormal: Probing the Existence of
the Supernatural
Editors: George O. Abell and Barry Singer
Published: 1981 (Scribner’s)
Pages: 362
The conclusion of all these essays about how science has
been able to objectively comment on the paranormal can be summed up by a
sentence in the conclusion by Philip Morrison: “…but like everything we know,
they are not too wonderful to be true.”
If you’ve taken a college-level science course over the past
twenty years or so, none of these experimental results, observational data, or
methodical dissections of “conclusive” proof of the paranormal will surprise you.
It’s not there, guys. Science is like 99% sure, and I’m sure since this has
been published it’s crept way closer to 100%.
I did enjoy reading these essays, though. It’s a collection
of some great scientists who can write well, and they’re more obsessed with
their paranormal subjects than the people who believe in the supernatural –
they kind of have to be to test the phenomena so rigorously. But their loyalty
to objectivity gives us confidence of their findings and how easily the human
brain can be tricked, especially when it wants to be.
I don’t mean for this to sound snobby or anything, and I do
think people should believe whatever they want to believe unless or until it
starts to hurt other people – but it does, so I’m all for books like this that
might save people some physical or emotional harm or disillusionment without
the kneejerk emotional assault that a lot of disproving material goes for.
Bookshelf.
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