The Field Of Paranormal Science

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Scientists call paranormal investigators many different names, including silly and outrageous, but one name that they never call these people, is a scientist. As paranormal investigators, these people study the existence of ghosts, and ultimately, try to prove the existence of ghosts in the natural world. When doing so, they are using scientific methods. This, indirectly, should classify their field of study as a form of science. Despite this, many people do not consider the study of ghosts and paranormal phenomena a legitimate science at all, and often disregard it when discussing scientific fields. These scientists have biased opinions on why the field of paranormal phenomena isn't considered a field of science, and oftentimes, it is because …show more content…

This is the case with paranormal phenomena. Ghosts appear and disappear in the natural world, but this type of phenomena can not be repeated in a laboratory setting, or with certain tests. With that being said, this does not mean that the study of ghosts is not a legitimate science. Scientist Carl Sagan has stated, “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"(Porter). This shows that although their studies can not be repeated, their evidence is still, in fact, evidence that should be considered legitimate. All paranormal investigators use different types of equipment to collect data that is reasonable, and logical. After acquiring this data and evidence, they then put it to the test, just as any other scientist would. In the book, The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal, it is stated that the first thing that a paranormal investigator does is to try to find a natural explanation for the occurrence. It is not until after they have done this, that they define it as a ghost, or anomaly. Not only this, but another example of the scientific method being applied to the study of ghosts is that all of these scientists try to disprove their findings. This is shown when Michael Krivyanski, a freelance writer from Allison Park, Pennsylvania whose work has been published in Entrepreneur and Smash Magazine states that "We do, in fact, try to disprove almost every anomaly that we record. This way, what we are left with is more reliable”(Krivyanski). This shows that their findings are not biased, and their efforts are not just for

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