Radin, D., Lund, N., Emoto, M., Kizu, T. (2008). Effects of distant intention on water crystal formation: A triple-blind replication. Journal of Scientific Exploration , 22(4), 481-493. An experiment tested the hypothesis that water exposed to distant intentions affects the aesthetic rating of ice crystals formed from that water. Over three days, 1,900 people in Austria and Germany focused their intentions towards water samples located inside an electromagnetically shielded room in California. Water samples located near the target water, but unknown to the people providing intentions, acted as "proximal" controls. Other samples located outside the shielded room acted as distant controls. Ice drops formed from samples of water in the different treatment conditions were photographed by a technician, each image was assessed for aesthetic beauty by over 2,500 independent judges, and the resulting data were analyzed, all by individuals blind with respect to the underlying treatme...
Comments
a) It is often argued by "True Believers" that parapsychology is recognized as a science since the Parapsychological Association (PA) is an elected affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). That seems impressive, but then, the American Alpine Club is an AAAS affiliate as well. Both the PA and the Alpine Club sponsor research, but if rock climbing isn't a recognized area of science, then AAAS affiliation is no reason to say that parapsychology is one either.
I think the argument is not valid because Parapsychology is present at many Universities, and rock climbing is not.
b)AAAS accepted Parapsychology as a Science, but the Royal Society don't.
I dont know if b) is true, but if is, is there any movement trying to insert the Parapsychological Association in the Royal Society?
The AAAS, and I, believe that science is about systematic ways of exploring the natural world. That includes thousands of different approaches, which is why there are tens of thousands of peer-reviewed scientific journals being published.
To my knowledge no one has proposed that parapsychology become part of the Royal Society. But the late Prof. Robert Morris, head of the Koestler Parapsychology Unit at the University of Edinburgh from 1985 to 2004, was President of the Psychology Section of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
The angst aroused in true disbelievers by the fact that parapsychology is a genuine science deserves serious study. What are they afraid of?
The angst aroused in true disbelievers by the fact that parapsychology is a genuine science deserves serious study. What are they afraid of?
They are afraid of existential breakdown. I've talked to some this have happened to the other way around. They actually got anxiety attacks and dropped out of studies because of it. They felt their view of the universe was being erased and replaced by the "truth". This truth was that the universe was a random, deterministic place, where even their own mind didn't have any real existence. They felt reduced to insignificant machines. This then led to severe depression.
I think this must work both ways. Those that think the universe is safe and describable using objective concepts only, will get a deep anxiety when their world view is threatened by psi research (or certain results from QM). I guess it's human nature.
Tor
I realise that your point (a) did not represent your own views, but isn't it incredible that despite science's supposed objectivity, the validity of a whole area of study is assessed on the basis of club membership!
"In" subjects get published in respectable journals, and psi has to make do with other journals, that then don't count as proper scientific journals because they publish such stuff.
This, of course, leads in turn to the conclusion that psi is not a proper scientific discipline because it can't get (most of) its papers published in the respected journals!
Whoever that the rock climbing isn't a science and therefore being an AAAS affiliate doesn't mean an affiliate is engaged in science should have checked his facts first. AAAS affiliates are involved in science. Here is the criteria for affiliation with that AAAS:
"Criteria for Affiliation of Organizations with the AAAS
The objectives of the AAAS are: "to further the work of scientists, to facilitate cooperation among them, to foster scientific freedom and responsibility, to improve the effectiveness of science in the promotion of human welfare, and to increase public understanding and appreciation of the importance and promise of the methods of science in human progress."
Here is information about the American Alpine Club which shows that it is involved in scientific research:
http://library.thinkquest.org/19515/research/aac.html
"RESEARCH. This research grant, supported by the American Alpine Club, awards over $4000 to worthy students studying general science, Biology, Environmental Science, or Forestry. Seven awards are usually presented to applicants, with their monetary value ranging from $496 to $1000. The applications, consisting of a research proposal, are evaluated based on their scientific or technical merit and their contribution to the alpines. The application deadline is March 1, and the Notification Deadline is June 1."
http://americanalpineclub.org/whyjoin
"Membership Supports
...
Conservation, Research & Climbing Grants Awarding over $40k annually to support cutting-edge projects"
It is slightly ironic that someone would make statements about what is or isn't science when they themselvesare not in the habit of checking the validity of their own preconcieved ideas before they state them as facts. It is so easy to do that with access to the internet. It seems that despite the success of science, with some people, many skeptics included, superstition still wins out over facts.