Addendum: Bem's theories clearly violate classical (Newtonian) mechanics. However, contemporary physics (quantum theory -> string theory) seems to be in an 'anything is possible' mode, so I'm not sure that a working physicist would make an a priori judgement on precognition.
On Jun 9, 2012, at 10:02 AM, Paul Brandon wrote: > The Skeptical Inquirer (http://www.csicop.org/) has a series of articles > about l'affaire Bem, including argument with psychologist James Alcock. I > don't think that any physicists were involved, though. > > For what it's worth, I knew Darryl slightly when he was a graduate student > (we had the same advisor; Harlan Lane, at the time) -- he seemed sane then. > > And in classic science fiction, BEM referred to Bug Eyed Monsters. > > On Jun 9, 2012, at 8:25 AM, Michael Palij wrote: > >> On Sat, 09 Jun 2012 05:14:17 -0700, Scott O Lilienfeld wrote: >>> Daryl Bem was my undergraduate advisor at Cornell from 1978 to 1982. He was >>> beginning to conduct work on psi (using the ganzfeld procedure, if I recall) >>> even back then. He also spoke quite favorably about the possibiilty of >>> paranormal phenomena in his courses. So he has certainly been open to the >>> existence of psi for many decades. The article's implication that data >>> "changed his mind" following many years of skepticsm of psi strikes me as >>> exceedingly dubious. >> >> My dissertation advisor, Marvin Levine, who did his original research on >> hypothesis theory (Harry Harlow was one of his advisors) and would go on >> to do research in spatial problem solving (the area of my dissertation). >> He was also a somewhat unconventional person (i.e., "flake") because he >> had he practiced yoga and studied Buddhism before it was fashionable. >> I was somewhat concerned about how these activities might influence >> his view of science until we both were exposed to some research involving >> PSI/telepathy. I was extremely skeptical of the whole business but wasn't >> sure what Marv's reaction was. I asked what he thought and his response >> impressed. Paraphrasing from a potentially faulty memory, Marv said: >> >> |"We know an awful lot about energy from physics and the big problem >> |here is the person either doesn't know physics or how what he's talking >> |about violates what we know about physics. Regardless of the results, >> |he still has to explain how his results fit into what we know is true and >> |valid in physics. >> >> Bem did not go into much detail about physics in his JPSP article but >> when I looked at some of Bem's writing in the parapsychology journals, >> he went into detail about the mechanisms (i.e., how the future affects the >> present). I think the real question is how does Bem's explanation and >> theory are inconsistent with current physical theory. Does anyone know >> of any physicist's critique of Bem's theory or model? If Bem relies >> upon empirical results for his beliefs, shouldn't be taking into account >> what the standard results are in physics? >> >> -Mike Palij >> New York University >> [email protected] >> >> --- >> You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe click here: >> http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13438.3b5166ef147b143fedd04b1c4a64900b&n=T&l=tips&o=18283 >> or send a blank email to >> leave-18283-13438.3b5166ef147b143fedd04b1c4a649...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > > Paul Brandon > Emeritus Professor of Psychology > Minnesota State University, Mankato > [email protected] > > > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13438.3b5166ef147b143fedd04b1c4a64900b&n=T&l=tips&o=18285 > or send a blank email to > leave-18285-13438.3b5166ef147b143fedd04b1c4a649...@fsulist.frostburg.edu Paul Brandon Emeritus Professor of Psychology Minnesota State University, Mankato [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=18286 or send a blank email to leave-18286-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
