๑ Parascience ๑

Psychological Issue - Parascience

The world of mysticism and the occult begins with a set of premises that differ sharply from those of the "scientific" world. It is for this reason that scientific-parasicentific communication has so often been a "dialogue of the deaf" in which both speak persuasively, but neither listens (Metzner, 1971). The term parascience (para meaning "beside, apart from, or accessory to") is a fairer choice of terms than the traditional, derogatory label, pseudoscience (pseudo meaning "false"). As Kaufman (1968) observed: "Some aspects of science itself developed out of magic, and whatever the dissmilarities, it shares with magic the urge to know the . . . world, and the belief that Man can be more than a passive, uncomprehending thing in it" (p. 7).

Recent times have seen the rise of astrology, numerology, witchcraft, satanism, Ouija boards, Tarot cards and a multitude of other approaches to the mystery of man. 90% of American newspapers carry daily astrological forecasts, and as many as two million Ouija boards are purchased each year in this scientifically sophisticated society.

In 1865, Claude Bernard insisted that if the facts used for the basis of reasoning are ill-established or erroneous, everything will crumble. Indeed, errors in scientific theories often originate in errors of fact. But it is this disagreement about what is or is not "fact" that triggers most of the hostile dialogue between parascientists and scientists.

Scientists must seem unreasonable to parascientists but, as Gardner (1952) pointed out, this very stubbornness "forces the scientist with a novel view to mass considerable evidence before his theory can be seriously entertained. If this situation did not exist, science would be reduced to shambles by having to examine every new-fangled notion that came along. Clearly, working scientists have more important tasks" (p. 11).

• The Psychologist and Personal Bias
• The Varieties of Parascience
• The Occult Parasciences
• Satanism and Other Mysteries

(Source : McNeil, E. B. The Psychology of Human Being. New York: Canfield Press, 1974.)

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