Autcsrgv.294
net.misc
utzoo!utcsrgv!donald
Sun Apr 18 14:48:55 1982
A Skeptic on Replies to Skeptics
An overview of PSI Wars: mhuxh!lute and research!rtm vs the rest of the net.
It's amazing how many people still used the word "prove" in
connexion [sic] with scientific theories! To my knowledge, not
one theory of science has ever been *proven*, in the sense that
from a set of axioms and inference rules the theory has a priori
been derived. All science does is make a limited set of observations
of events in the universe, and attempt to form a simple paradigm
(usually with a mathematical description) describing how those
events work. This is by no means a proof in the mathematical or
logical sense (as we computer scientists should know...)
Parapsychology is *not* mysticism as research!rtm seems to suggest,
for mysticism denies the basic assumption of science: that one CAN
form a paradigm describing reality. Rather, parapsycology (at least
reputable parapsychology) merely tries to quantify and explain the
observations which PSI research is based on, in a scientific (see above)
manner.
In practice, however, it seems that many parapsychologists
are too willing to multiply hypotheses without cause and to perform
experiments with slipshod controls, hence most of the results in the
field do not seem to be worth much. We should exercise caution in
our criticisms of PSI research: remember the stubborness which the
scientific community displayed before accepting meteors as real
phenomena. After all, what is more absurd than rocks falling from
the sky? (and then only when ignorant farmers are present, not
scientists!)
Fair enough summary?
Anyway, I don't think I can say anything else on the topic that
duke!bcw hasn't said already.
I do not favor forming a group "net.psi" because I think this discussion
is one of those which flare up once every X months (X>6), and die very
quickly. There do not seem to be that may pro-PSI people on the net;
the skeptics merely jump in when they have their ire raised by reckless
speculation. In any case, proliferation of newsgroups just makes it
harder on poor people like me who have to keep up with the veritable flood
of incoming information. Next we'll be seeing net.ufo, net.bermudatriangle,
net.TM, net.vondaniken, net.velikovsky, net.kirilian, net.dowsing,
ad infinitum. Or how about net.pseudoscience?
Don Chan (utcsrg!donald)
P.S. In the kingdom of the blind, the
one-eyed man can murder and pillage
as much as he wants.
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