Roots of coincidence

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 17:07:32 +0100

Taking it easy today, trying to combat my pervading sense of tiredness:

I spent little time with the 'ol PowerBook today and more time reading and napping. I have finally started Arthur Koestlers Roots of coincidence which I obtained, second hand, some time ago after reading V for Vendetta in which it is one of the books read by Albert Finch. V made a big impression on me.

I've read the first two chapters which are about the beginnings of parapsychology (scientific investigation into unusual phenomena such as ESP, clairvoyance, PK, and precognition) and modern physics and the relationship between the two.

As Nobel prize winning physicist Wolfgang Pauli puts it:

"The general problem of the relationship between mind and body, between the inward and the outward, cannot be said to have been solved by the concept of psycho-physical parallelism formulated in the last century. Modern science has perhaps brought us nearer to a more satisfactory understanding of this relationship, by introducing the concept of complementarity into physics itself. It would be the more satisfactory solution if mind and body could be interpreted as complementary aspects of the same reality."

or, to quote Sir James Jeans:

"Today there is a wide measure of agreement, which on the physical side of science approaches almost to unanimity, that the stream of knowledge is heading towards a non-mechanical reality; the universe begins to look more like a great thought than like a great machine."

The book was written in 1972, the year of my birth. Through Chris I know a little of the recent history of parapsychology but was relatively ignorant of it's foundings and early history. Any suggestions of a work to read after "roots" warmly welcomed.

Oh, one thing which grabbed me from the early chapter was this quote from noted communications theorist Warren Weaver:

"I find this [ESP] a subject that is so intellectually uncomfortable as to be almost painful. I end by concluding that I cannot explain away Professor Rhine's evidence, and that I also cannot accept his interpretation."

Clearly a man who is no stranger to cognitive dissonance.

Curiouser and Curiouser! on parapsychology

Roots of coincidence