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Must the 'Magic' of Psychokinesis Hinder Precise Scientific Measurement? |
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Written by Administrator
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sexta, 10 setembro 2004 |
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Pallikari, Fotini(2003). Must the 'Magic' of Psychokinesis Hinder Precise Scientific Measurement? Journal of Consciousness Studies, 10(6-7), (pp. 199-219) Abstract Although evidential reports of paranormal phenomena (psi for short) have been accumulating over the last 50 years, scepticism within the scientific community at large against the very existence of psi has not retreated in proportion. Strong criticism has been voiced and it is worth taking it under serious consideration while attempting to understand psi. This article reviews the micropsychokinesis phenomenon, aiming to reconcile evidence that favours it with other evidence that seems to refute it. To achieve this challenging task, some seemingly irrelevant observations will be invoked -- such as the often observed decline and differential effects, the ten-year-old statistical balancing effect, the longstanding reports for the experimental evidence of PK, the recent large-scale failure to replicate the conventional PK hypothesis -- alongside the austere arguments against PK. This paper argues that the evidence can withstand this serious criticism.
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