The Problems of Psychical Research: Experiments and Theories in the Realm of the SupernormalCarrington, Hereward
Science
The Problems of Psychical Research: Experiments and Theories in the Realm of the Supernormal
Carrington, Hereward
Parapsychology
Miss Johnson agrees with this, and in fact goes so far as to say: "If
these hands had been completely invisible to some person with normal
sight looking directly at them in a good light, we should then have good
evidence that they were hallucinatory."[28]
To this I cannot agree. I find myself completely differing from Miss
Johnson in my interpretation of such an incident as this. For, while
hallucination is one possible theory to account for the phenomena,
another equally plausible theory is that the hands were in fact
objective and real, but were only perceptible to various individuals in
varying degrees. This aspect of the problem is hardly touched upon by
Count Solovovo, but is discussed at some length by Miss Johnson. In this
connection she says:
"Here [in the hand, i.e.] is a kind of matter which is not only
temporary in character--a fact in itself extraordinary enough--but
exhibits another quite unprecedented characteristic in the
arbitrary selectiveness of its effects on other matter. In order to
be visible at all, it must reflect light. How does it manage to
reflect light that affects the retina of one person and not the
retina of another? We may reply that the difference must lie in the
retinae, one being more sensitive than the other. But we do not
find the same difference of sensitivity in regard to the light
reflected from ordinary objects. It seems to follow then that the
light reflected from the spirit-hand is a peculiar kind of light,
lying outside the limits of the ordinary visible spectrum. But in
that case, why is not the person with the more sensitive retina
affected by it? For of course all ordinary objects are constantly
giving off radiations outside the limits of the visible spectrum;
but our supposed sensitive apparently does not perceive them."[29]
First, as to the matters of fact. Where is the evidence that those with
the most sensitive retinae were not the very ones who perceived, most
perfectly, the spirit-hand? Were a series of experiments conducted to
show which of the onlookers possessed the most sensitive eyes? If so,
where are these experiments recorded? It is quite possible that the body
is constantly giving off a kind of _aura_--perceptible to some,
invisible to others; and the fact that some do not see it is no proof
that it is not there. If the experiments of Reichenbach and others go
for anything, indeed, there is very good evidence that such emanations
do take place--and I venture to think (however rank heresy this may
appear) that these experiments have never been completely refuted, and
the results obtained shown to be traceable _in toto_ to suggestion. The
eyes of certain individuals might be attuned to receive vibrations or
impressions quite imperceptible to others, no matter how sensitive their
retinae to normal perceptions or sensations.
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