If an ESP experiment appears to show positive results then I think judgement should remain skeptical, in the negative, until enough experimental verification and a good theory is produeced which explains the effect and why other experiments worked when they ignored ESP. This is because IF psychic powers exist at the levels some claim THEN a lot of research suggesting the opposite must be re-evaluated. There are many more experiments suggesting a null effect compared with the one or two suggesting a positive effect.

If psychic powers existed at the levels some people claim then the vast majority of scientific papers would be invalid because the experiments were performed assuming there were no psychic influences.

Psychics typically try to cover their backs by claiming the "auras" or "vibrations" were wrong to succeed. Too much skepticism in the room seems to frustrate the psychic process. If this really mattered then scientific experiments would show a strong correlation between the attitudes of the researchers and the outcome of the experiment.

General Relativity replaced Newton's theory of Gravity. Newton Theory mostly worked in the domain it was used. GR works both in the Newtonian domain and other domains. Science should not accept a new theory that can not also explain the experiments that used to be covered by the old theory. A theory including ESP would need to adequately explain why its effects are essentially zero when scientists do experiments except under very special circumstances when the results are positive.

What have other scientists said about the "positive" remote-sensing results you mention?

• Re: If strong ESP yes then most Science no. - yanniru - March 9, 2001 - 19:24 UTC
  • Is "Remote Sensing" a kind of ESP? - johnpowell - March 13, 2001 - 20:02 UTC
    • IT has been detected - yanniru - March 13, 2001 - 23:35 UTC
      • I'm waiting for reliable supporting experiments. - johnpowell - March 19, 2001 - 20:18 UTC
        • Randi - yanniru - March 19, 2001 - 22:09 UTC
          • Randi is well-qualified to catch deception - johnpowell - April 5, 2001 - 02:30 UTC