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'''Psionics''' are a group of [[psychic]] abilities which parapsychologists claim can use the [[mind]] to induce [[paranormal]] [[phenomena]], including [[telepathy]], [[telekinesis]], [[pyrokinesis]] and [[List of psychic abilities|others]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2014}} Alleged practitioners of psionics are called [[psychics]], and sometimes refer to themselves as psions.{{Citation needed|date=January 2014}} [[Parapsychology]], |
'''Psionics''' are a group of [[psychic]] abilities which parapsychologists claim can use the [[mind]] to induce [[paranormal]] [[phenomena]], including [[telepathy]], [[telekinesis]], [[pyrokinesis]] and [[List of psychic abilities|others]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2014}} Alleged practitioners of psionics are called [[psychics]], and sometimes refer to themselves as psions.{{Citation needed|date=January 2014}} [[Parapsychology]], begun around 1889, aims to study psionic and other [[supernatural]] claims.<ref name=Melton>{{Cite book|last=Melton |first=J. G. |authorlink= |title=Parapsychology. In Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsychology |publisher=[[Thomson Gale]] |year=1996 |pages= |isbn=978-0-8103-9487-2}}</ref> A large industry exists whereby psychics provide advice and counsel to clients.<ref name="nisbet">{{Cite journal|author=Matthew Nisbet|date=May–June 1998|title=Psychic telephone networks profit on yearning, gullibility|magazine=[[Skeptical Inquirer]]|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_/ai_20615402}}</ref> |
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Despite over a century of research, there is no evidence that psionic abilities exist.<ref name="Cordón">{{Cite book|author=Cordón, Luis A. |title=Popular psychology: an encyclopedia |publisher= [[Greenwood Publishing Group|Greenwood Press]] |location=Westport, Conn |year=2005 |page= 182|isbn=0-313-32457-3 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate= |quote=The essential problem is that a large portion of the scientific community, including most research psychologists, regards parapsychology as a pseudoscience, due largely to its failure to move beyond null results in the way science usually does. Ordinarily, when experimental evidence fails repeatedly to support a hypothesis, that hypothesis is abandoned. Within parapsychology, however, more than a century of experimentation has failed even to conclusively demonstrate the mere existence of paranormal phenomenon, yet parapsychologists continue to pursue that elusive goal.}}</ref> |
Despite over a century of research, there is no evidence that psionic abilities exist.<ref name="Cordón">{{Cite book|author=Cordón, Luis A. |title=Popular psychology: an encyclopedia |publisher= [[Greenwood Publishing Group|Greenwood Press]] |location=Westport, Conn |year=2005 |page= 182|isbn=0-313-32457-3 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate= |quote=The essential problem is that a large portion of the scientific community, including most research psychologists, regards parapsychology as a pseudoscience, due largely to its failure to move beyond null results in the way science usually does. Ordinarily, when experimental evidence fails repeatedly to support a hypothesis, that hypothesis is abandoned. Within parapsychology, however, more than a century of experimentation has failed even to conclusively demonstrate the mere existence of paranormal phenomenon, yet parapsychologists continue to pursue that elusive goal.}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 14:25, 12 February 2014
Psionics are a group of psychic abilities which parapsychologists claim can use the mind to induce paranormal phenomena, including telepathy, telekinesis, pyrokinesis and others.[citation needed] Alleged practitioners of psionics are called psychics, and sometimes refer to themselves as psions.[citation needed] Parapsychology, begun around 1889, aims to study psionic and other supernatural claims.[1] A large industry exists whereby psychics provide advice and counsel to clients.[2]
Despite over a century of research, there is no evidence that psionic abilities exist.[3]
Etymology
John W. Campbell, an editor of a science fiction magazine, became enthused about fringe science[4] and, according to the The Routledge Companion to Science Fiction, he went on to define Psionics as "Engineering applied to the mind".[5] His encouragement of Psi led author Murray Leinster and others to write stories such as The Psionic Mousetrap.[4]
The term comes from psi (‘psyche’) and the ending -onics from electronics (machine), which implied that the paranormal powers of the mind could be made to work reliably.[6]
Fiction
Psionic abilities appear frequently in science fiction, where they are used as a substitute for magic and provide characters with abilities that are normally seen in the fantasy genre.[7]
See also
- List of psychic abilities
- List of superhuman features and abilities in fiction
- Psionics (role-playing games)
References
- ^ Melton, J. G. (1996). Parapsychology. In Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsychology. Thomson Gale. ISBN 978-0-8103-9487-2.
- ^ Matthew Nisbet (May–June 1998). "Psychic telephone networks profit on yearning, gullibility". Skeptical Inquirer.
- ^ Cordón, Luis A. (2005). Popular psychology: an encyclopedia. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. p. 182. ISBN 0-313-32457-3.
The essential problem is that a large portion of the scientific community, including most research psychologists, regards parapsychology as a pseudoscience, due largely to its failure to move beyond null results in the way science usually does. Ordinarily, when experimental evidence fails repeatedly to support a hypothesis, that hypothesis is abandoned. Within parapsychology, however, more than a century of experimentation has failed even to conclusively demonstrate the mere existence of paranormal phenomenon, yet parapsychologists continue to pursue that elusive goal.
- ^ a b The Greenwood encyclopedia of science fiction and fantasy. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. 2005. ISBN 0313329508.
{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help);|first=missing|last=(help) - ^ The Routledge companion to science fiction (1st ed. ed.). London: Routledge. 2009. p. 410. ISBN 0415453798.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help);|first=has generic name (help);|first=missing|last=(help); Explicit use of et al. in:|first=(help) - ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
- ^ Poul Anderson. "Fantasy in the Age of Science", p 270, Fantasy ISBN 48-51518