In Search of Psi: Contemporary Perspectives on Extra-Sensory Perception, Psychokinesis, and Survival

Abstract

In March 2011, a professor of botany at Montana State University, having just read Arthur Koestler's (1972) book 'The Roots of Coincidence', approached one of us, and asked the question: "Can you tell me, from your perspective of having critically reviewed the literature, is there now incontrovertible statistical evidence for psi?" (emphasis added). When statistical evidence is sought, one is tempted (some might say, compelled) to respond from an evidence-based perspective, but unfortunately that approach can often end up in a 'he-said/she-said' exchange that goes nowhere fast. Preferably, to put it briefly and somewhat cautiously, a typical answer should go something like this: There are ongoing disputes over what suffices as statistical evidence in any field of research (such as medicine, or psychology) and, similarly, in parapsychology, many advocates (i.e., believers) are convinced of psi effects purely from the statistical evidence yet, from the very same evidence, skeptics are not so convinced, if at all! It does not seem to matter how much evidence is piled up - believers and skeptics usually maintain their positions. It is unclear just what it would take to convince skeptics that psi exists, but they would wonder what it would take to convince believers that the opposite is true.