A PHILOSOPHICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE PARANORMAL AND THE FUTURE OF EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCE

Abstract

Issues bordering on experimental science and paranormal have been controversial and have been a problem in philosophy of science. Major discussions on the issue have been on the existence and activities of the paranormal and successes in experimental scientific discoveries. The paranormal consists of alleged occurrences or powers which if actual, cannot be explained by our current understanding of physics. The position of the experimental scientists is that the paranormal or extra sensory perception (ESP) such as telepathy and psychokinesis are fraudulent and pseudo-scientific. They assume that the experimental scientific method affords the only reliable natural means of acquiring knowledge as may be available about whatever is real. The method of this research is hermeneutic. This research posits that the propaganda for the experimental scientific method and political economy of science influences and hampers researches and investigation into the paranormal. It further states that the current experimental scientific position as the custodian of true knowledge is a misnomer. Also it indicates that investigation and interpretation of the paranormal acts will open up hitherto an unknown dimension of the nature of the universe that current understanding of physics has not been able to do. The work examines the paranormal in the light of some scientific theories and principles like the field theory, phenomena of resonance, uncertainty principle, and John Bells theorem. A careful perusal shows that all the parts of the universe are connected in an intimate way, a position previously claimed only by mystics without scientific proof. With this standpoint, the research recommends that there should be a re-examination of what constitutes empirical scientific endeavour in order to make way for an unrestricted method of investigation of the universe. If this is done, those things modern science cannot explain yet they occur and are classed paranormal can be explained. In that way a new and deeper science of the future explicating the universe will emerge.