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| '''Paranormal''' is a general term that describes unusual [[experiences]] that lack a [[scientific]] explanation,[1] or [[phenomena]] alleged to be outside of science's current ability to explain or [[measure]].[2] Notably, paranormal phenomena also lack scientific [[evidence]], as detectable but not well explained phenomena such as [[dark matter]] or dark [[energy]] are not commonly called paranormal. | | '''Paranormal''' is a general term that describes unusual [[experiences]] that lack a [[scientific]] explanation,[1] or [[phenomena]] alleged to be outside of science's current ability to explain or [[measure]].[2] Notably, paranormal phenomena also lack scientific [[evidence]], as detectable but not well explained phenomena such as [[dark matter]] or dark [[energy]] are not commonly called paranormal. |
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− | Stories relating to paranormal phenomena are found in popular [[culture]], but the scientific [[community]], as referenced in statements made by organizations such as the United States [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Science_Foundation National Science Foundation], maintains that scientific evidence does not support paranormal [[beliefs]].[3] | + | Stories relating to paranormal phenomena are found in popular [[culture]], but the scientific [[community]], as referenced in statements made by organizations such as the United States [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Science_Foundation National Science Foundation], maintains that scientific evidence does not support paranormal [[beliefs]].[3] |
| ==Paranormal research== | | ==Paranormal research== |
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− | Approaching the paranormal from a [[research]] [[perspective]] is often difficult because of the lack of acceptance of the [[physical]] [[reality]] of most of the purported [[phenonema]]. By definition, the paranormal does not conform to conventional expectations of the [[natural]]. Despite this challenge, studies on the paranormal are periodically conducted by researchers all from various [[disciplines]]. Some researchers study just the [[beliefs]] in the paranormal regardless of whether the phenomena are considered to objectively exist. | + | Approaching the paranormal from a [[research]] [[perspective]] is often difficult because of the lack of acceptance of the [[physical]] [[reality]] of most of the purported [[phenonema]]. By definition, the paranormal does not conform to conventional expectations of the [[natural]]. Despite this challenge, studies on the paranormal are periodically conducted by researchers all from various [[disciplines]]. Some researchers study just the [[beliefs]] in the paranormal regardless of whether the phenomena are considered to objectively exist. |
| + | <center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of the '''''Paranormal''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Paranormal/TeaM '''''this link'''''].</center> |
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| ==Anecdotal approach== | | ==Anecdotal approach== |
− | An anecdotal approach to the paranormal involves the collection of stories told about the paranormal. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Fort Charles Fort] (1874-1932) is perhaps the best known collector of paranormal anecdotes. Fort is said to have compiled as many as 40,000 notes on unexplained paranormal [[experiences]], though there were no doubt many more than these. These notes came from what he called "the orthodox [[convention]]ality of [[Science]]", which were odd events originally reported in magazines and newspapers such as The Times and scientific [[journals]] such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_American Scientific American], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_(journal) Nature] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_(journal) Science]". From this research Fort wrote seven books, though only four survive. These are: The Book of the Damned (1919), New Lands (1923), Lo! (1931) and Wild Talents (1932); one book was written between New Lands and Lo! but it was abandoned and absorbed into Lo!. | + | An anecdotal approach to the paranormal involves the collection of stories told about the paranormal. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Fort Charles Fort] (1874-1932) is perhaps the best known collector of paranormal anecdotes. Fort is said to have compiled as many as 40,000 notes on unexplained paranormal [[experiences]], though there were no doubt many more than these. These notes came from what he called "the orthodox [[convention]]ality of [[Science]]", which were odd events originally reported in magazines and newspapers such as The Times and scientific [[journals]] such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_American Scientific American], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_(journal) Nature] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_(journal) Science]". From this research Fort wrote seven books, though only four survive. These are: The Book of the Damned (1919), New Lands (1923), Lo! (1931) and Wild Talents (1932); one book was written between New Lands and Lo! but it was abandoned and absorbed into Lo!. |
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− | Reported [[events]] that he collected include [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleportation teleportation] (a term Fort is generally credited with coining); [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist poltergeist] events, falls of frogs, fishes, inorganic materials of an amazing range; [[crop circles]]; unaccountable noises and explosions; spontaneous fires; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levitation_(paranormal) levitation]; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning ball lightning] (a term explicitly used by Fort); [[Ufo|unidentified flying objects]]; [[mysterious]] appearances and disappearances; giant wheels of light in the oceans; and animals found outside their normal ranges (see phantom cat). He offered many reports of OOPArts, abbreviation for "out of place" [[artifacts]]: strange items found in unlikely locations. He also is perhaps the first person to explain strange human appearances and disappearances by the hypothesis of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_abduction alien abduction], and was an early proponent of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterrestrial_hypothesis extraterrestrial hypothesis]. | + | Reported [[events]] that he collected include [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleportation teleportation] (a term Fort is generally credited with coining); [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist poltergeist] events, falls of frogs, fishes, inorganic materials of an amazing range; [[crop circles]]; unaccountable noises and explosions; spontaneous fires; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levitation_(paranormal) levitation]; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning ball lightning] (a term explicitly used by Fort); [[Ufo|unidentified flying objects]]; [[mysterious]] appearances and disappearances; giant wheels of light in the oceans; and animals found outside their normal ranges (see phantom cat). He offered many reports of OOPArts, abbreviation for "out of place" [[artifacts]]: strange items found in unlikely locations. He also is perhaps the first person to explain strange human appearances and disappearances by the hypothesis of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_abduction alien abduction], and was an early proponent of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterrestrial_hypothesis extraterrestrial hypothesis]. |
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− | Fort is considered by many as the father of modern paranormalism, which is the study of the paranormal. The magazine [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortean_Times Fortean Times] continues Charles Fort's approach, regularly reporting anecdotal accounts of the paranormal. | + | Fort is considered by many as the father of modern paranormalism, which is the study of the paranormal. The magazine [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortean_Times Fortean Times] continues Charles Fort's approach, regularly reporting anecdotal accounts of the paranormal. |
| ==See also== | | ==See also== |
| '''''[[Occult]]''''' | | '''''[[Occult]]''''' |
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| # Belief in the Paranormal or Pseudoscience | | # Belief in the Paranormal or Pseudoscience |
| ==External links== | | ==External links== |
− | [http://www.dmoz.org//Society/Paranormal// Paranormal] at the Open Directory Project | + | [https://www.dmoz.org//Society/Paranormal// Paranormal] at the Open Directory Project |
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| [[Category: Parapsychology]] | | [[Category: Parapsychology]] |