SAC.LONG%USC-ISIE@sri-unix.UUCP (02/01/84)
As Schauble pointed out in his response, many of us have had experiences involving what would seem to be "supernatural" or "psychic" occurrences. I have arrived at my own explanation of such phenomenon which I will present to those of you who may be interested. Let us assume (famous quote) there is an entity of 0 (zero) dimension which exists in a one dimensional universe. Let us also assume there is another entity of zero dimension who exits in a two dimensional universe, such that the latter universe contains the first. More simply stated, one has a Cartesian coordinate system with two points (being supposed intelligent entities), one of which is restricted to a line, the other the entire plane. Suppose the two entities are on the same line. The first entity (A) perceives the other entity (B), and vice versa. Then B, having the entire plane within which to move, moves himself from his present position of being, for example, on the left side of A to the right side of A by leaving the line, travelling above A, and then intersecting the line again on the other side of A (did you follow that?). What does A perceive? B, who was on my left, suddenly disappeared (!), and then reappeared (!) on my right! That's IMPOSSIBLE! And indeed, because A can only comprehend a one dimensional universe, for him it is impossible. However, for B, his movement was completely ordinary, for he can move anywhere within his two dimensional plane. Now increase the dimension of each entity's universe by one, and repeat the previous example, such that B leaves the plane in which A exists, travels in his third dimension to a new position, and once more intersects A's plane. One has the same result: for A, a miracle; for B, nothing unusual. What's the point of all this? There has been much research in the area of the sub-conscious mind. It has been a contention of some para-psychologists that if there are such forces as PSI and ESP, they reside in the sub-conscious. I'm sure most of us have at one time or another experienced "prophetic" dreams (something we dreamed about came to pass) or other such events. It is my personal contention that there is at least one more dimension beyond the three dimensions of space (and perhaps time) we know of. If this is the case, then that which we perceive in the three dimensions of every day life we call "normal". When somehow an event occurs involving one higher dimension, it's "supernatural". That called "the mind" is little understood and could indeed posses one dimension beyond time and space. What is the relationship between the physical brain and the conscious mind ? Therein may lie the answer. If this is true, then PSI/ESP does not in any way violate or undermine physics, but only continues to operate within the laws of the universe -- we just don't understand them all (if anyone does, please call immediately!). -- Steve
dya@unc-c.UUCP (02/04/84)
References: sri-arpa.16250
One possible explaination for non-manipulative ESP/PSI (i.e. receive
only, clairvoyance, etc) might be behavioural. Is it possible when someone
knows "what someone else is doing" that one is behaving in an attenuated
fashion as the other person did ?
B.F. Skinner states that pheonomena such as "search and recall" behaviour
really represent behaving in the original "storage" way, albeit attenuated.
For example, when you remember how Dr. J made that great basketball shot,
what you are really doing is behaving in ways which result in recreating
as many of the contingencies of reinforcement as originally.
Certain contingencies of reinfocement are unavialable to direct analysis
( for example, tactile information of every point on the body ) because
neurology is simply too inferior provide awareness of each and every
contingency of reinforcement. Nevertheless, perhaps the observation of
other persons (and noting their contingencies of reinforcement, such as
what they are doing at given times of the day, etc.) causes either 1)) a
flaw in the human behavioural O.S. such that one begins responding to
the contingencies of reinforcement in the other person. Thus, certain
people who might have behaved in ways which strengthen their ability
to temporarily suspend their behavioural O.S. and extrapolate based upon
someone elses' might be able to predict (with a greater than "random"
chance ) what they are doing, where they went, etc. 2) The flaw is probably
how one can explain experiences such as deja vu. Perhaps the evolution
process has not perfected the human behavioural O.S..
I have yet to see a controlled PSI/ESP experiment where clairvoyance
was involved, and the "predictor" and "object" didn't know each other
fairly well. Also, has anyone checked to see if the "hit" rate increases
as a function of how long the predictor and object have contact with
each other ?
I used to hang around this psychic old lady (worth about $7 million)
while in high school just to see if there was any justification to the
matter. The fact that all these psychics really know each other well
(very well !) really makes me believe that their effacy in prediction or
whatever has a purely behavioural basis.
Radical behaviourism doesn't violate any natural laws, either.
David "Not a radical behaviourist, but open minded to anything reasonable"
Anthony
( akgua!mcnc!urp,unc-c!dya )