From: det@sw.stratus.com (David Toland)
Newsgroups: sci.physics,sci.skeptic,alt.paranormal,alt.sci.physics.new-theories,rec.arts.startrek.tech
Subject: Re: New Physics, Healing, Paranormal
Date: 27 Jan 93 15:25:57 GMT
Reply-To: somebody@somehost.edu
Organization: Stratus Computer Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: phlan.sw.stratus.com

In article <-xq3+jr@rpi.edu>, petitc@nuge112.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit) writes:
>Actually, I also side more with the advocate of 'New Age' stuff.  Most of it,
>I'll agree is probably off-the-wall.  But, some is very important and ignored
>in this day and age.  Specifically...
> 
>Emotions and mental states are CRUCIAL to physical health...
>Properly done therapudic touching can help heal sicknesses by making the
>subject feel cared for...

This predates New Age pseudoscience.  It differs from New Age babble in
that it 1) is supported by well-documented clinical studies and 2) is
explainable without mysticism or mis-stated physics.  The brain does
exist within and has influence over the physical body, including influence
over aspects of the biochemistry.  It does not require mysticism to
expect that this gives the patient's psychological state a degree of
influence over his or her recuperative abilities.

>It is possible to perceive someone else's emotional state by non-verbal
>means...

Which is extrapolation of sensory information, not some "6th sense" input.

>As for all the ESP info---consider this.  There are many urban legends which
>involve ESP as 'saving the day'  Now, in order for ESP not to exist, EVERY ONE
>of those stories must have either an alternate explanation or be totally
>false.

No argument.  But no one has been able to demonstrate the existence of ESP
under laboratory conditions that stand up to peer review, despite substantial
monetary incentives to do so.  This does not prove that ESP does not exist
in any form, but certainly does not argue in favor of it.

>Just remember---Relativity wasn't believed to exist either, until someone
>thought of how to prove its existence.

The theory of relativity made specific predictions that were testable
under difficult to measure conditions.  When the measurements were
possible, they agreed with the predictions with statistically significant
accuracy.  Thus far, all predictions based upon ESP conjectures have failed
to produce statistically significant verifiable results.  There is a
set of procedures for verifying scientific theories, and it exists to
ensure that results are repeatable and to eliminate false results due to
the bias of the researcher.  Even the simplest forms of ESP have failed
to be reproducibly measurable under any conditions that eliminate
alternate explanations.

People will believe what they want.  Religions have arisen in the past to
explain what people do not understand.  Coincidence is not well understood
by most people, especially when low probability events occur.  Most people
interpret a 1 in 10000 chance of an event as an impossible occurrence,
but if there are 1000000 opportunities per day of such an event, it
in fact becomes a likely occurrence.

This discussion really does not belong in r.a.s.t., and I apologize
to subscribers whose time is being wasted here.  I was trained as a
scientist, and find today's widespread ignorance of the scientific
no less than appalling.  I see the bulk of the New Age claims as
at best based upon ignorance and wishful thinking, and at the
worst blatant hucksterism.

-- 
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det@phlan.sw.stratus.com   |  "Laddie, you'll be needin' something to wash
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Newsgroups: sci.physics