Science vs Superstition

Pat stopping by today, to ponder how time changes our perceptions.

My Magic series begins in the mid 1750’s, at a time when science wasn’t clearly defined. Today’s Websters defines science as “the state of knowing: knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding.” At Dictionary.com it’s defined as “a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws.”  I believe in high school I learned science was based on observation and proof from repeated experimentation, or some such.

But in the first Encyclopedia Britannica from 1770, science was defined as “in philosophy, denotes any doctrine, deduced from self-evident and certain principles, by a regular demonstration.”

Self-evident? It’s evident there are white glittering objects in the night sky, and those objects change with the season, but does that make astrology a science? Sure, as a Leo, born under the late July stars, I dress flamboyantly and display leadership qualities like Mae West, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Napoleon, but does that serve as “regular demonstration” that astrology is knowledge?

How fine is the line between superstition and science, astrology and astronomy, alchemy and chemistry? We don’t teach phrenology today, but some of the Victorian precepts led to today’s medical science of neurology. It sounds like ridiculous superstition to believe light particles know what is ahead and will adjust their behavior accordingly—leading to speculation about the time/space continuum and time travel—but this is one of the basic principles behind quantum physics. Warping time and space might warp my mind, so the theory impresses me about as much as astrology. But Newton figured out gravity from a falling apple and no one believed him either.

Which, of course, brings us to my psychic Malcoms. Are telekinesis, telepathy, and other so-called parnormal phenomena really superstition or have we just been put off by the bad rep and not applied sufficient scientific study? It’s been proven that animals have a higher order of smell and dogs can sniff the odor of cancer, so why is it so impossible to believe that some humans might have a highly developed sense of smell? And the army and computer geeks are working with human brain waves to control computers, is it so far-fetched to take that another step and believe there are human minds that can detect those electron patterns and literally read minds? And we’ve already located the brain receptors that respond to the ‘love” hormone oxytocin and proven some people are more empathic than others. Who is to say some people can’t read far more of emotion than others? Empaths, anyone?

Of course, the number of people who might be able to perform these feats are so far outnumbered by charlatans and scam artists that incredulity is stretched, but that doesn’t mean psychic phenomena are impossible. It just means that like phrenology eventually led to neurology, and alchemy gave way to the proven scientific precepts of chemistry, we just need more time and study.

It’s a pity my Malcolms are fictional. I’d love to see more psychics step forward to be studied, in hopes that one day we’ll be able to use our brains for better purposes than watching television. If you had one psychic ability, what would you like it to be? I believe I might have a copy of THE LURE OF SONG AND MAGIC left to give away to any creative commenters.

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Comments

[Jo Beverley]

Very interesting, Pat. Who was it who said something like "any sufficiently advanced technology can be seen as magic." I've always thought radio magic. The waves are just there, everywhere, detectable by the right, and quite simple, bit of technology.

I do believe that there's a lot more around us than most of us detect and that some people are more sensitive. It could be likened to hearing, where some people can detect a greater range of sounds.

I'm not surprised that people with real powers don't come forward to be studied, though. Think what governments and scientists might want to do with them!

Jo

[Cate S]

There have been a number of 'fictionalized' accounts of people with enhanced abilities being studied by 'government agencies'.. ALl of which would keep me from advertizing any 'special' talents I would have.. besides, people are cruel enough about those who look and/or behave different from the statistical norm.. ie, autism spectrum, etc. But I still would like to have the ability to tell if someone was lying or shading the truth.. especially since it's an election year...

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose]

A very interesting post, Pat. For me, it makes sense that there might be some people whose perceptions are more highly developed than those of us others. But as Jo says, it's understandable why they wouldn't want to step forward. The press would make them out to be freaks, and the government would use them as human guinea pigs.

Cate S, LOL on the ability to detect lying! That would be interesting—but it might drive you off the deep end!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Fascinating topic, Pat! On a day to day basis, we accept all kinds of things since we've been told all our lives that their a result of science--yet we don't understand them at all. Think how improbable the internet is! Isn't it magic that we can connect so easily to people on the other side of the world?

So what magical superpower would I like? Talk to the animals? (Not sure I'd like to know what my cats really think of me. *G*) Teleportation so I could get to cool places without airports? That would be good! Or maybe the gift of healing. But there is so much need that it would become utterly overwhelming in no time.

I guess I'd rather write about magical abilities rather than figure out how to use them!

[Patricia Rice]

Sneaking in here for a few minutes before running out again. LOL on the politicians. Just assume they're all telling half-truths. Wonder how that would be picked up as brain waves?

[Barbara Elness]

I enjoyed this post, there were some intriguing ideas mentioned, which gave me a lot to think about.
If I had one psychic ability, I'd love to be able to teleport. I really hate sitting in traffic, so it would be wonderful to be able to just instantly be where I wanted to go. And to be able to bring another along for the ride would be wonderful too. That could come in handy in an emergency for sure.

[theo]

I love this post. I often have thought that most of us don't utilize more than 1/4 of the brain power we're given and those of us who are able are labeled 'genius' now, but then would have been labeled a witch or sorcerer.

And some people do have "magical abilities." There are few people who can actually smell bitter almonds, the smell of cyanide. There are many things like that which some people have the magic for and most of us do not.

I think I'd like to time travel, but the responsibility that would come with it, to avoid the temptation to change history, would be too overwhelming. Maybe if I could go back and just watch...

[LilMissMolly]

Good question! I'd like to be able to peak into the future.

[Betty Hamilton]

I loved this post and have always loved the topic. My mother felt that there was a sort of 6th sense that ran in her family. Her mother used to sense when she (my mother) was in trouble or if there was something bad about to happen to her and would call my mother to "warn" her to be careful. My mother had many stories or unexplained happenings concerning this 6th sense and my grandmother and other relatives. So... I would like to see a book dealing with premonitions (good or bad) for family members.

[eli yanti]

i love can read a future and hope with this talent i can help other people

[Patricia Rice]

Oh yes, teleportation, I want that! And the Second Sight has been reported so frequently, one has to wonder if it's related to quantum physics and bending time waves so we can peek at the future. Time travel---yeah, if we stopped wars, would we blow up the world? I'm not sure we're ready for that one yet.

[Grace Burrowes]

If I were to have one gift, I'd like to be able to know the nature of somebody emotional wounds by touching them. There's probably not an name for that, but the first step in healing is awareness of the hurt, and a lot us are stumbling around desperately ignoring our hurts (for a time, any way).

But then, I'd also like to be able to turn the gift off and on, or limit it to my left palm, or something. Wonderful post--I will think on this.

[Barbara Bettis]

A thought-provoking post. At one point in life I would have liked to know when someone lied; now I don't care.

Like Grace, I'd like to be able to know and help heal someone's hurts. Teleporting would be wonderful--then I wouldn't mind living so far out of town.

But if I could have any supernatural ability at all, I think I'd like the ability to move thru time--backward--to correct some of the mistakes I've made in life.

Thanks, Pat.

[Patricia Rice]

Interesting thought, Grace, limiting the abilities. I think if I knew the hurt, though, I'd want to heal it, and that would really be draining.

But Barbara, the problem with going backward is that if we change anything, everything changes. If you didn't make those mistakes, would you be the same person as you are today?