Disproving Psychic Abilities
Frederick Gimino asked:
Psychics provide an opportunity to explore a mysterious world that lies just beyond our five senses. Opening a door to the supernatural realm of spirits and other worldly phenomenon psychics hold the key to the future that is yet to be.
Some skeptics say psychics do not exist but many experts disagree. Considering the expansive collection of unexplained phenomenon, in the world, it is hard to dispute the possibility of psychic powers.
We do know that we only use about 10% of our brains resources. So, what is the other 90 % for? It would stand to reason that it has some function. Right? So, is it not possible that somewhere, in that untapped potential, resides a sixth sense?
A sense that allowed us to survive a much darker time when man was forced to compete with oversized predators and elusive prey. Only armed with the power of the human mind, steely wits, and an opposable thumb mankind was already a formidable adversary. However, the addition of keener senses or an additional sixth sense would have made humanity unstoppable.
The ability to sense, that which lies beyond our five senses, would have been an invaluable tool to early man. It may have allowed the survival of the human species, as we know it today. However, as time went on and living conditions became easier with the domestication of animals, honing of learned skills, and the ability to form agrarian societies these abilities may have atrophied.
Our psychic abilities may have atrophied to the point that they became anatomically and physiologically vestigial in nature. The genetic combination responsible for the psychic trait may now rarely appear except aberrantly, in a chosen few, whose genotype allows phenotypical expression of the dormant trait or traits responsible for psychic abilities.
Just because we do not understand something fully does not mean it does not exist. The possibility of psychic ability, in our mysterious universe, is still a plausible explanation for many unexplained phenomenon.
Even with all of the advancements over the last 100 years there is still much debate and speculation, in the scientific community, about a plethora of topics. From the big bang to evolution scientists agree to disagree.
It stands to reason according to the scientific method that until all the explanations, hypothesis, and theories regarding psychic abilities are disproved that it must be considered as a viable alternative explanation to recognized unexplained paranormal phenomenon such as deja vu, precognition, and clairvoyance.
Some scientists studying psychic phenomenon, in children, utilizing the Zener card test regularly encounter statistically significant data that suggests more than chance outcomes at work. In fact many children regularly defy the odds by scoring 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60 % accuracy on a test with a statistical mean of 20% by chance. If that were a drug trial being run and that was the incidence of death for participants the FDA would certainly consider that significant. Right?
In addition to genetic factors that may predispose children to exhibit psychic abilities human development may hold some clues as to the reason children seem to possess a higher degree of psychic ability than adults. Human development occurs in stages each with its own marked physiological characteristics. During childhood it should come as no surprise to find out that we have the highest number of synaptic pathways that we ever have during the course of our lives. Do these extra connections provide a medium to the psychic realm? Is our brain wired towards the paranormal at earlier stages of human development due to anatomical and physiological processes that are occurring during the first several years of our lives?
Furthermore, according to Comparative Embryology during the first 6 weeks of human development, in our mother’s womb, we go through an evolution of sorts. In fact up until the time we differentiate we remain almost morphologically indistinguishable from lower life forms, in the same phase of development. From a single cell to pharyngeal gill slits to lanugo (body hair in utero) to human morphology we comparatively exhibit similar traits to our animal ancestors.
Is it possible that this comparative morphology extends past the physical development of the human body and into our development outside the womb? Maybe, our cognitive development goes through an “evolution” of sorts were the anatomy and physiology of our minds comparatively resembles our ancient psychic ability possessing human ancestors.
So, the question becomes can we disprove all plausible explanations, hypothesis, and theories regarding psychic ability. Not can we prove psychic ability exists. In addition many skeptics spend their entire lives trying to prove that psychic abilities do not exist rather than trying to disprove their own explanations, hypothesis, and theories about its non-existence. This type of objective scientific inquiry is tainted with bias and must not be considered credible.
Only when all the possible plausible explanations, hypothesis, and theories have been tested subjectively using the scientific method and disproved can any true scientist or skeptic state with 95% confidence that psychics and human psychic abilities do not exist.
Psychics provide an opportunity to explore a mysterious world that lies just beyond our five senses. Opening a door to the supernatural realm of spirits and other worldly phenomenon psychics hold the key to the future that is yet to be.
Some skeptics say psychics do not exist but many experts disagree. Considering the expansive collection of unexplained phenomenon, in the world, it is hard to dispute the possibility of psychic powers.
We do know that we only use about 10% of our brains resources. So, what is the other 90 % for? It would stand to reason that it has some function. Right? So, is it not possible that somewhere, in that untapped potential, resides a sixth sense?
A sense that allowed us to survive a much darker time when man was forced to compete with oversized predators and elusive prey. Only armed with the power of the human mind, steely wits, and an opposable thumb mankind was already a formidable adversary. However, the addition of keener senses or an additional sixth sense would have made humanity unstoppable.
The ability to sense, that which lies beyond our five senses, would have been an invaluable tool to early man. It may have allowed the survival of the human species, as we know it today. However, as time went on and living conditions became easier with the domestication of animals, honing of learned skills, and the ability to form agrarian societies these abilities may have atrophied.
Our psychic abilities may have atrophied to the point that they became anatomically and physiologically vestigial in nature. The genetic combination responsible for the psychic trait may now rarely appear except aberrantly, in a chosen few, whose genotype allows phenotypical expression of the dormant trait or traits responsible for psychic abilities.
Just because we do not understand something fully does not mean it does not exist. The possibility of psychic ability, in our mysterious universe, is still a plausible explanation for many unexplained phenomenon.
Even with all of the advancements over the last 100 years there is still much debate and speculation, in the scientific community, about a plethora of topics. From the big bang to evolution scientists agree to disagree.
It stands to reason according to the scientific method that until all the explanations, hypothesis, and theories regarding psychic abilities are disproved that it must be considered as a viable alternative explanation to recognized unexplained paranormal phenomenon such as deja vu, precognition, and clairvoyance.
Some scientists studying psychic phenomenon, in children, utilizing the Zener card test regularly encounter statistically significant data that suggests more than chance outcomes at work. In fact many children regularly defy the odds by scoring 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60 % accuracy on a test with a statistical mean of 20% by chance. If that were a drug trial being run and that was the incidence of death for participants the FDA would certainly consider that significant. Right?
In addition to genetic factors that may predispose children to exhibit psychic abilities human development may hold some clues as to the reason children seem to possess a higher degree of psychic ability than adults. Human development occurs in stages each with its own marked physiological characteristics. During childhood it should come as no surprise to find out that we have the highest number of synaptic pathways that we ever have during the course of our lives. Do these extra connections provide a medium to the psychic realm? Is our brain wired towards the paranormal at earlier stages of human development due to anatomical and physiological processes that are occurring during the first several years of our lives?
Furthermore, according to Comparative Embryology during the first 6 weeks of human development, in our mother’s womb, we go through an evolution of sorts. In fact up until the time we differentiate we remain almost morphologically indistinguishable from lower life forms, in the same phase of development. From a single cell to pharyngeal gill slits to lanugo (body hair in utero) to human morphology we comparatively exhibit similar traits to our animal ancestors.
Is it possible that this comparative morphology extends past the physical development of the human body and into our development outside the womb? Maybe, our cognitive development goes through an “evolution” of sorts were the anatomy and physiology of our minds comparatively resembles our ancient psychic ability possessing human ancestors.
So, the question becomes can we disprove all plausible explanations, hypothesis, and theories regarding psychic ability. Not can we prove psychic ability exists. In addition many skeptics spend their entire lives trying to prove that psychic abilities do not exist rather than trying to disprove their own explanations, hypothesis, and theories about its non-existence. This type of objective scientific inquiry is tainted with bias and must not be considered credible.
Only when all the possible plausible explanations, hypothesis, and theories have been tested subjectively using the scientific method and disproved can any true scientist or skeptic state with 95% confidence that psychics and human psychic abilities do not exist.
Scary Creatures in Reality and Wild Imaginings
October 24, 2009 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
Joel Owens asked:
In the realm of mortals, life may seem to be closing in on black and white. We lead our lives with the orientation that only the quantifiable, observable and overt are deemed to be true. However, in the realm of the endless, human beings are mere mortal creatures and truth is not a matter of great importance. It is a world where scary creatures lurk, ghosts and mummies cause mayhem, and humans are at the mercy of unfathomable paranormal events.
Many ghost stories and urban legends about scary creatures have been circulating throughout the years. Despite these, people are still skeptical as to the veracity of the ghostly figures in these stories. Stories can’t seem to stand against the strong mantra “to see is to believe”.
These scary creatures are described as undead entities that reanimate restless spirits wanting to take revenge for their untimely deaths. Ghosts are just some of these undead creatures lurking in the shadows of urban legends. Ghosts are restless spirits of dead people that usually haunt the place where they once lived. As depicted in films and books, these scary creatures haunt the living to search for justice and closure for their tragic deaths. However, not all ghosts are depicted as such. In some cases, ghosts just “hang around” us without any intention of causing some loud screams. They are stuck in between heaven and hell because their spirits can’t rest in peace until they finish their purpose here in the realm of mortals.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky is said to be haunted by scary creatures we call ghosts. Once a two-story hospital accommodating tuberculosis patients, this place was allegedly the dying place of more than 8000 TB patients from 1911 to 1945. The worst cases of these deaths occurred during the outbreak of the disease in World War II. Documentaries and paranormal investigations said that there are small, child-like features caught on camera. Scary wails and screams are heard in empty rooftops and patios of the sanatorium. Moving shadows that have substance and are able to walk across doors are allegedly seen in places where dying patients are situated.
The current plan for the sanatorium is to transform it into a hotel to target the haunted hotel crowd and regular hotel patrons.
Villisca in Iowa, considered as one of the scariest places on earth, is also said to be haunted by the ghosts of the brutally murdered members of the Moore family. The murder itself was arguably one of the most infamous unsolved murder cases in American history. On June 10, 1912 was the last day when 6 members of the Moore family and their two young guests were ever seen alive. They were dismembered by an assailant who viciously killed them with an axe. The heinous crime is still a mystery to be solved by the authorities as the killer is still unknown to this day.
To this day, the Moore house is said to be haunted by the spirits of its former inhabitants. Curious visitors of the “Villisca House” claimed to have heard voices of children who didn’t exist. Efforts have been done to renovate the house, but it seems that the scary creatures in the “Murder House” hinder the plan since the weather-beaten house is the only witness to the nightmare that took place in the Moore household.
Whether ghosts or other scary creatures are just figments of playful imaginations or a validation that the paranormal exists is still under scrutiny and discussion. As for now, all we know is that as long as there are unexplained phenomena occurring and haunting our dreams and wild imaginings, more stories about these forsaken and scary creatures will be told.
In the realm of mortals, life may seem to be closing in on black and white. We lead our lives with the orientation that only the quantifiable, observable and overt are deemed to be true. However, in the realm of the endless, human beings are mere mortal creatures and truth is not a matter of great importance. It is a world where scary creatures lurk, ghosts and mummies cause mayhem, and humans are at the mercy of unfathomable paranormal events.
Many ghost stories and urban legends about scary creatures have been circulating throughout the years. Despite these, people are still skeptical as to the veracity of the ghostly figures in these stories. Stories can’t seem to stand against the strong mantra “to see is to believe”.
These scary creatures are described as undead entities that reanimate restless spirits wanting to take revenge for their untimely deaths. Ghosts are just some of these undead creatures lurking in the shadows of urban legends. Ghosts are restless spirits of dead people that usually haunt the place where they once lived. As depicted in films and books, these scary creatures haunt the living to search for justice and closure for their tragic deaths. However, not all ghosts are depicted as such. In some cases, ghosts just “hang around” us without any intention of causing some loud screams. They are stuck in between heaven and hell because their spirits can’t rest in peace until they finish their purpose here in the realm of mortals.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky is said to be haunted by scary creatures we call ghosts. Once a two-story hospital accommodating tuberculosis patients, this place was allegedly the dying place of more than 8000 TB patients from 1911 to 1945. The worst cases of these deaths occurred during the outbreak of the disease in World War II. Documentaries and paranormal investigations said that there are small, child-like features caught on camera. Scary wails and screams are heard in empty rooftops and patios of the sanatorium. Moving shadows that have substance and are able to walk across doors are allegedly seen in places where dying patients are situated.
The current plan for the sanatorium is to transform it into a hotel to target the haunted hotel crowd and regular hotel patrons.
Villisca in Iowa, considered as one of the scariest places on earth, is also said to be haunted by the ghosts of the brutally murdered members of the Moore family. The murder itself was arguably one of the most infamous unsolved murder cases in American history. On June 10, 1912 was the last day when 6 members of the Moore family and their two young guests were ever seen alive. They were dismembered by an assailant who viciously killed them with an axe. The heinous crime is still a mystery to be solved by the authorities as the killer is still unknown to this day.
To this day, the Moore house is said to be haunted by the spirits of its former inhabitants. Curious visitors of the “Villisca House” claimed to have heard voices of children who didn’t exist. Efforts have been done to renovate the house, but it seems that the scary creatures in the “Murder House” hinder the plan since the weather-beaten house is the only witness to the nightmare that took place in the Moore household.
Whether ghosts or other scary creatures are just figments of playful imaginations or a validation that the paranormal exists is still under scrutiny and discussion. As for now, all we know is that as long as there are unexplained phenomena occurring and haunting our dreams and wild imaginings, more stories about these forsaken and scary creatures will be told.
