Is the Supernatural study a Form of Science?

[yewberry]

The general public does dismiss it because it is considered a sin to mingle with the supernatural...

 
Another teenager who doesn't understand how science works.  This is excellent news.

Brina

[Aisling]

"The general public" more likely to dismiss everything you're saying as hogwash before they think of it as "evil".

 
That's exactly the word this member of the general public thought of- utter and absolute hogwash.  Strange that... normally my word of choice would involve bovine excretions.

[HeartShadow]

Physics has already determined that there are in fact other realms. Perhaps these realms are where the supernatural reside? It seems plausible that the supernatural study could be a form a science since it deals with physics. Thoughts?

 
Scientific Method 101-

To be a real theory, something must be provable, reproducible, and fit inside other existing data.

The supernatural is inherently non-scientific because it cannot be studied.  It can be hypothesized, but until/unless experiences with the supernatural can be proven and reproduced at will, then are inherently unscientific.

That doesn't mean true OR false.  It means unscientific.  It means it does not fit how studies work.  There could be an entire crowd of people that saw an identical spirit do a strip tease on main street, but that doesn't make it science.  That's anecdotal evidence.

Physics hasn't *proven* other realms, either.  current theories SUSPECT other realms.  That's not the same thing.  Other realms are ALSO inherently unscientific because if we cannot interact with them, they cannot be tested, probed, or anything.  It's like saying the room is actually full of invisible intangible pink unicorns.  Unless there's some way to test to see if the unicorns exist, there's no way to prove it either way.  It's outside of science.  Someone comes up with a test for invisible intangible pink unicorns, then it can fall into the realm of science.  Until then, it's just NOT.

If it cannot be reproduced or predicted, it's not science.  EVEN IF there's bizarre proof - even if there's corroborating evidence - that's not science.  AT BEST it can give an angle for scientific exploration to head into.  (Like Fausta's study example.  That's looking at the result ON PEOPLE.  That we can measure).

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.  It just doesn't exist.  And if it does, you'll be SWARMED by scientists hoping to make a name for themselves and get a thesis in.

Seriously - if someone could actually publish on this?  if someone could PROVE anything in the supernatural world and have reproducible results?  their career would be MADE.  The idea that this stuff is being suppressed COMPLETELY ignores how the scientific world works.

Publish or perish, dude.  If you've got something that can take peer review publication, crank it out.  I guarantee you'll have interest - IF it can take peer review.  Otherwise?  it just ain't science.

[Darkhawk]

The general public does dismiss it because it is considered a sin to mingle with the supernatural...

 
Most people don't worry about this sort of thing because, like UFO sightings and pretty much everything ever said about Atlantis, the overwhelming majority of people who prate on about it look like their acquaintance with reality was very passing and lapsed on bad terms sometime before high school.

[Fausta]

 if someone could PROVE anything in the supernatural world and have reproducible results?  their career would be MADE.  

Continuing from Shad's post:

This far, studies on the supernatural* has come up with "no scientific proof it works". At best, what's been discovered is "some people may be able to do this-or-that with slightly above chance accuracy, but reproducibility is nonexistent".

* Studies have been made on subjects from water dowsing through ouija boards to poltergeist phenomena...

[Jubes]

poltergeist phenomena...

 
speaking of which I have  an experiment I want to  try... I just need someone to take  3  teenagers off my hands for  about a  week and a half. If the  poltergeist  activity  stops in my house and   starts in the house  of the person generous enough to take them  then we can say for certain that   teenagers are  the catalyst for  poltergeist activity....any takers to help me out here??? :

[Fausta]

speaking of which I have  an experiment I want to  try... I just need someone to take  3  teenagers off my hands for  about a  week and a half. If the  poltergeist  activity  stops in my house and   starts in the house  of the person generous enough to take them  then we can say for certain that   teenagers are  the catalyst for  poltergeist activity....any takers to help me out here??? :

 
Lemme think....

Sorry, but no thanks! :

[Waldhexe]

The Big Bang Theory is the real DaVinci Code.

loooooooooool!

But I don't think Sheldon would agree with you!

[Marilyn/Absentminded]

Lemme think....

Sorry, but no thanks! :

 
Wise.  The first and the third aren't bad, but that second one - well, there is some thought that she may actually be a poltergeist who got a hold of some skin to dress herself up in.  That's why you can actually see the things that go flying pass through her hands first, instead of just taking off on their own.:p

Anybody will take the first and the third, but the second is the buried stinger.  Anyone taking up this experiment needs lots of coins, jigsaw puzzles, or mismatched socks to survive the experience.

Sorry, Trace

Absent

[Jubes]

Wise.  The first and the third aren't bad, but that second one - well, there is some thought that she may actually be a poltergeist who got a hold of some skin to dress herself up in.  That's why you can actually see the things that go flying pass through her hands first, instead of just taking off on their own.:p

Anybody will take the first and the third, but the second is the buried stinger.  Anyone taking up this experiment needs lots of coins, jigsaw puzzles, or mismatched socks to survive the experience.

Sorry, Trace

Absent

 
PFFT  mismatched socks are SO  last year  ...... :eek:

oh and who are you kidding.... that third one....  the only thing  keeping  his poltergeist  arse  from  throwing things at me is  MY ability to make all  his  electronics disappear in one felt swoop, and I think he's having some  kind of  weird love affair with  his  Xbox! I'm pretty sure he's  been  quietly  taking lessons  from the  skin colored poltergeist for when she's not here he seems to fill the roll in a  rather strangely  loud  yet not  so violent way, he's really learned to curb that  violent  thing lately again I  attribute that to the  weird love affair with  the Xbox. :whis:

[mandrina]

PFFT  mismatched socks are SO  last year  ...... :eek:

oh and who are you kidding.... that third one....  the only thing  keeping  his poltergeist  arse  from  throwing things at me is  MY ability to make all  his  electronics disappear in one felt swoop, and I think he's having some  kind of  weird love affair with  his  Xbox! I'm pretty sure he's  been  quietly  taking lessons  from the  skin colored poltergeist for when she's not here he seems to fill the roll in a  rather strangely  loud  yet not  so violent way, he's really learned to curb that  violent  thing lately again I  attribute that to the  weird love affair with  the Xbox. :whis:

now I know what;s going on in my house.  I'll trade the three for four.  three teens plus a 12 year old.

[Jubes]

now I know what;s going on in my house.  I'll trade the three for four.  three teens plus a 12 year old.

 
Oh hell NO! You keep that 12 year old..... those  kind are the worst  for attracting  the most evil  poltergeists :yikes:  As it is I'm pretty sure that  is the age that the poltergeist  put on the  skin  suit  we loving call  #2  around here    :whis:

[dionysiandame]

Physics has already determined that there are in fact other realms. Perhaps these realms are where the supernatural reside? It seems plausible that the supernatural study could be a form a science since it deals with physics. Thoughts?

Okay, at first I thought you were asking if the show Supernatural was science and then I was all confused because, I mean really, what kind of science is pinning women to ceilings and watching blood ooze out of their belly buttons? Then I thought about how much I like the nerdy brother above the meat-head one who thinks he's the shit. But, I'm kind of getting tired of the "near-miss" every. single. effing. time. I mean I guess they have to do it because there are only 2-3 main characters but still!

...what?

Right. Physics. There is the Lumerian Lab of Ancient Traveller Metaphysical Studies. Their program is very difficult to get into though. Apparently, they only let people in who have midichlorians. I don't know why.

[Owl]

I suspect that your inability to distinguish between reality and the things going on in your head is at the root of your problems here (and likely elsewhere).  Also, no.

See how I'm talking to it like it's not a troll?  Because I'm a lady.

Brina

A lady?  Did you suddenly turn off your fun genes?

[Owl]

Right. Physics. There is the Lumerian Lab of Ancient Traveller Metaphysical Studies. Their program is very difficult to get into though. Apparently, they only let people in who have midichlorians. I don't know why.

I am so glad I waited to take a drink of beer until after reading your post......