Beyond Belief
Skepticism, Science and the Paranormal

This book has been written to provide an integrated understanding of what an evidence-based approach to the paranormal involves.

Martin Bridgstock (Author)

9780521758932, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 20 October 2009

214 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.2 cm, 0.3 kg

Whether ghosts, astrology or ESP, up to 80 per cent of the population believes in one or more aspects of the paranormal. Such beliefs are entertaining, and it is tempting to think of them as harmless. However, there is mounting evidence that paranormal beliefs can be dangerous - cases of children dying because parents rejected orthodox medicine in favour of alternative remedies, and 'psychics' who trade on the grief of the bereaved for personal profit and gain. Expenditure on the paranormal runs into billions of dollars each year. In Beyond Belief: Skepticism, Science and the Paranormal Martin Bridgstock provides an integrated understanding of what an evidence-based approach to the paranormal - a skeptical approach - involves, and why it is necessary. Bridgstock does not set out to show that all paranormal claims are necessarily false, but he does suggest that we all need the analytical ability and critical thinking skills to seek and assess the evidence for paranormal claims.

Preface
1. Introduction - the paranormal and why it matters
2. The nature of science
3. The paranormal
4. Skepticism - from Socrates to Hume
5. Modern skepticism
6. Bringing skepticism down to earth
7. Skepticism, ethics and survival
8. Skepticism beyond the paranormal
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Unexplained phenomena / the paranormal [VXQ], Popular science [PDZ], Social, group or collective psychology [JMH]