Abstract

Presents a sympathetic review of the evidence that favors interpreting some veridical apparitions as providing evidence for survival after death and compares this interpretation with those that account for them in terms of ESP on the part of the percipient(s). The types of evidence discussed as favoring the survival hypothesis are (a) instances in which the motivation of the deceased to communicate is much stronger than that of the percipient, (b) collectively perceived apparitions, (c) apparitions exhibiting evidence of purpose, (d) reciprocal apparitions, (e) quasi -physical features of apparitions, and (f) apparitions in cases suggestive of reincarnation. It is argued that some apparitions of the deceased are traceable to the percipients but that others may arise (at least partly) from the activity of deceased or dying persons who may be regarded as, in some sense, "present." It is suggested that a range of intermediate types are possible in which agent and percipient may contribute different proportions to the percipient's experience. (41 ref)