Essays in Psychical Research

Essays in Psychical Research
Author: William James
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Total Pages: 728
Release: 1986
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 9780674267084

The more than 50 articles, essays, and reviews collected here for the first time were published by James over a span of some 25 years. The record of a sustained interest in phenomena of a highly controversial nature, they make it amply clear that James's work in psychical research was not an eccentric hobby but a serious and sympathetic concern.

The Invention of Telepathy, 1870-1901

The Invention of Telepathy, 1870-1901
Author: Roger Luckhurst
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Total Pages: 346
Release: 2002
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780199249626

The Invention of Telepathy explores one of the enduring concepts to emerge from the late nineteenth century. Telepathy was coined by Frederic Myers in 1882. He defined it as 'the communication of any kind from one mind to another, independently of the recognised channels of sense'. By 1901 it had become a disputed phenomenon amongst physical scientists yet was the 'royal road' to the unconscious mind. Telepathy was discussed by eminent men and women of the day, including Sigmund Freud, Thomas Huxley, Henry and William James, Mary Kingsley, Andrew Lang, Vernon Lee, W.T. Stead, and Oscar Wilde. Did telepathy signal evolutionary advance or possible decline? Could it be a means of binding the Empire closer together, or was it used by natives to subvert imperial communications? Were women more sensitive than men, and if so why? Roger Luckhurst investigates these questions in a study that mixes history of science with cultural history and literary analysis.

Religion, Philosophy and Psychical Research

Religion, Philosophy and Psychical Research
Author: C.D. Broad
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 291
Release: 2014-06-23
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1317830059

This is Volume I of seven in a series on the Philosophy of Religion and General Philosophy. Originally published in 1953, this is a collection of selected essays looking at Psychical Research to philosophy, arguments around the validity of a personal God and also looking at afterthoughts at the time of the Cold War.

From Shaman to Scientist

From Shaman to Scientist
Author: James Houran
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2004
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 9780810850545

"The writers of From Shaman to Scientist take the approach that there is no such thing as the supernatural, only things we don't yet understand. The ghost experience is examined through case studies; forms and functions ghost hunters have taken throughout history; key historical figures and their influence on the research of ghostly phenomena: ghost hunting in the twenty-first century, including the exploding trend of Internet ghost-hunting organizations; and the advances in the theory and technology of the parapsychology field. For those who are skeptical about the reality of ghosts but want to understand how so many individuals claim to have anomalous experiences, this collection reviews the data, offers insight into logical explanations, and discusses why this is - and has been for centuries - such an important and intriguing issue."--BOOK JACKET.

A Paul Meehl Reader

A Paul Meehl Reader
Author: Niels G. Waller
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 593
Release: 2013-09-05
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1134812140

This new book introduces a new generation to the important insights of Paul Meehl. In addition to selected papers from the classic reader, Psychodiagnosis, this book features new material selected from Meehl's most influential writings. The resulting collection is a tour de force illustrating quantitative analysis of life science problems, an examination of the inadequacy of some methods of analysis, and a review of the application of taxometrics. A Paul Meehl Reader is organized into five content areas: theory building and appraisal - how we discover and test the true causal relations of psychological constructs; specific etiology - an examination of genetic, behavioral, and environmental etiology in psychopathology; diagnosis and prediction - a review of the appropriate use of base rates; taxometrics - a look at Meehl's development of the method he invented; thinking effectively about psychological questions - a critique of correlation research and the power of quantitative thinking in psychology. The Reader features section introductions to orient the reader and provide a context and structure for Paul Meehl's work. The section on diagnosis and prediction features problem sets with solutions to guide the reader through practical applications of the principles described. Accompanying downloadable resources contain footage from Paul Meehl's engaging seminar on clinical versus statistical prediction. This book appeals to advanced students and professionals in psychology, sociology, law, education, human development, and philosophy.