Science, Nonscience and Rejected Knowledge: The Case of Parapsychology

Abstract

Parapsychologists purport to apply scientific method to the investigation of the bases of commonly reported parapsychological experiences such as extrasensory perception. Despite over a hundred years of associated research effort the status of parapsychology as a scientific endeavour is disputed by a substantial section of the contemporary mainstream scientific community. This paper identifies some of the major chronological shifts in the rationale for dismissing parapsychology as nonscientific, examining several historical attempts by parapsychologists to establish the scientific legitimacy of their discipline and the concomitant strategies of orthodox scientists to marginalise the findings of parapsychological research as rejected knowledge.