PARAPSYCHOLOGY ABSTRACTS INTERNATIONAL, FRANCE, 02991. MALACAN, ANDRE. SCIENTISM

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Paraps}'~v1~6tc>r-r&I'ts~k@i~1~0/08/15 :CIA-RDP96-00792R000701050002y?bl. 6, No. 2 December 1988
European matter. [n practice, anthropological parapsychol-
ogy clearly follows in the footsteps of "psychical research"
as it was in the times of F.W.H. Myers and William James.
Tliis approach is complementary to the quantitative
method. Different. questions are asked that produce a dif-
ferent kind of knowledge. - DA
02990. Zorab, G., Brcederveld, H., Johnson, M., van
I'raag, H., van Uongen, H., Gerding, H., and Bierman,
Uick J? Parapsychologists about parapsychology.
Tijdschrift voor Parapsychologie, 1986, S4(4), 47-58.
[n honor of the departure of Prof. H. van Prang as
special professor for the Dutch SPR, the editors of the
Tijdschrift put some questions to him and other parapsy-
chologists. Varying views are expressed about some fun-
damental issues of parapsychology. - DA
FRENCH LANGUAGE
(Editor: Alexander Imich, Ph.D.)
REVUE FRANCAISE DE PSYCHOTRONIQUE
02991. Malacan, Andre. Scientism. Revue F'rancaise de
Psychotronique, 1988 (Jan/Mar), 1(0), 5-11.
According to the author, scientism came into being at
the end of the 19th century. Its framework was provided
by August Comte's positivism. Practitioners of scientism
are intoxicated by words. Their method often consists of
using scientific words for unprecise, unquantified, or even
not well-defined parameters by using a series of words
such as curve, abscissa, metabolite, coordinate systems, etc.
Some examples of scientism are cited. - A.I.
02992. Chauvin, REmy. Change of speed in freezing
water seemingly d'ue to psychokinesis. Revue Francaise
de Psychotronique, 1988 (Jan/Mar}, 1(0), 13-19. 5 refs
Water, one of the most peculiar liquids, has a com-
plex and unstable structure, forming mono-, di-, and
trimers. Its overcooling depends on many factors, such as
the form of the container, atmospheric pressure (even in
sealed containers), and a number of solar spots. The
author, after noticing to his great surprise that he could
initiate movement in a divining -rod, decided to repeat
Bort.el's experiments (Archiv der Meteorologie, Geophysik
and Bioklimatologie, 1954, S, 25-257). Test tubes 10 cm
tong 6 mm i.d. with 4 cm long 2 mm i.d. upper parts,
filled with distilled water, were placed in a refrigerator
with a constant temperature of -10. degrees C. The author
then visualized for "a short while" that ice crystals were
forming in the upper parts of the tubes. After 40 minutes
of refrigeration the ice cylinders in the upper parts of the
experimental tubes were longer than in the control ones.
Next, the experiment was repeated but with some tubes
encased in tin, others in aluminum, and stilt others in mu
metal foil. The Mann-Whitney U aad Student's t test
were used in the statistical evaluation. Significant results
were found oa the aluminum-encased tubes only. The
author finds this most interesting, because no screen has
ever been found effective in psi experiments. - A.[.
02993. Lignon, Yves. On the use of the statistical
method in parapsychology. Revue Francaise de
Psychotronique, 1988 (Jan/Mar), 1(0), 21-25
Rhine demonstrated that the results of certain experi-
ments differ from those predicted by chance. Those who .
contest the results of the American school . of parapsychol-
ogy should, if they possess a minimum of intellectual
coherence, radically change their views. Since the proof
has already been made, why use the same procedures for
the following SO yearsT Since 1940 the procedures of the
American school have been useful only for testing the psi
capacities of an individual; they can be compared with a
standard blood test used in medicine. The critical ratio
presents a double inconvenience, the necessity of (a) using
simple targets, limiting subject's responses to a simple
dichotomy of true and false, and (b) obtaining many
responses, Today one can use complex targets and limit
responses to a few dozen. From the epistemological point
of view, the decision to use criteria much more severe
than those used by other sciences, the stand adopted by
the American school, is unjustified. This contributes only
to the marginalization of parapsychology. For the non-
mathematician, the author recommends Statistical Analysis
. in Psychology and Education by George Ferguson (3rd
ed, McGraw-Hill, 1971). - A.L
(Editors: Gerd H. Hlivelmann and Alexander Imich, Ph.D.)
GRENZGEBIETE DER WISSENSCNAFT
02994. HonorE, Jean. True and false phenomena.
Crenzgebiete der Wissenschaft, 1987, 36(1), 3-13.
The church knows that revelation ended with the last
apostle. Only a small number of miraculous phenomena,
visions, and spiritual messages are recognized by the
church as true. Because of concern about the danger of
imposture, falsification (the church recognizes the existence
of the devil), and the gullibility and superstition of the
faithful, the majority are refused official recognition.
However, Bernadette is the picture of truth and simplicity.
Her visions of the Virgin Mary in the grotto are genuine,
and Lourdes is the legitimate source of miraculous heal-
ings. The author of the article is the archbishop of Tours,
and Lourdes belongs to his diocese. - A.L
02995. Resch, Andrea. Exotic psi-Paranormal in other
cultures.. Crenzgebiete der Wissenschaft, 1987, 36(1), 14-
38. 9refs -
Psi-days--lectures, seminars, ,and healing
demonstrations-were given during the Swiss Samples Fair
from 10/30/86 to 1]/2/86. The following forms of exotic psi
were presented: witches and witchcraft, the witching power
"Mangu," ethnopharmacology of various .plants (henbane,
toadstool, ayahtiasca, hashish, and deathspell), anthropology
and parapsychology, reincarnation, and paranormal healing
iq various cultures (Philippines, Poland, India). - A.f.
02996. SchUz, Mathias. Consciousness transformation
and the scientific understanding of nature.
Crenzgebiete der Wissenschaft, 1987, 36(1), 39-57. 16 refs
The philosophy of C.F von Weizsacker was the sub-
ject of the author's dissertation and of a subsequently pub-
lished book. This philosophy is presented here under the
following headings: (a) the roach of contemporary natural
sciences; (b) the paradigmatic structure of contemporary
physics (nature, humans, and science); (c) a model of the
universe according to modern physics (experiments, quan-
tum theory); (d) unity of reality (unitary basis of reality,
the experience of unity}; (e) philosophical and pragmatic
consequences (paranormal phenomena, higher reality); and
(f) .closing remarks. - Ad.
02997. Zori, Marta, and Zori, FI. Biodetectian, a
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