Psychokinesis
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Psychokinesis is the metaphysical manipulation of all the four forces through particles called semions; in theory Unified Force. This ability has the potential to grow in the direction of any other sub-atomic or atomic based kinetic ability. [1]
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Etymology
The term psychokinesis (from the Greek ψυχή, "psyche", meaning mind, soul, heart, or breath; and κίνησις, "kinesis", meaning motion; literally "movement from the mind"),[2][3]
Terminology
The term "Psychokinesis" was coined in 1914[4] by American author-publisher Henry Holt in his book On the Cosmic Relations[5][6] and adopted by his friend, American parapsychologist J. B. Rhine in 1934 in connection with experiments to determine if a person could influence the outcome of falling dice.[7][8]
Measurement and Observation
Parapsychology researchers describe two basic types of measurable and observable psychokinetic effects in experimental laboratory research and in case reports occurring outside of the laboratory.[12][10][9] Micro-PK is a very small effect, such as the manipulation of molecules, atoms,[9] subatomic particles,[9] etc., that can only be observed with scientific equipment. The words are abbreviations for micro-psychokinesis, micropsychokinesis[11]. Macro-PK is a large-scale effect that can be seen with the unaided eye. The adjective phrases "microscopic-scale," "macroscopic- scale," "small-scale," and "large-scale" may also be used; for example, "a small-scale PK effect."
Notable Claimants of Psychokinesis
Skepticism and Controversy
The topic of psychokinesis is regarded as pseudoscience by many mainstream scientists. In the book Parapsychology: The Controversial Science (1991), British parapsychologist Richard S. Broughton, Ph.D, wrote of the differences of opinion among top scientists encountered by Robert G. Jahn, director of the (now-closed) PEAR laboratory, regarding the psychokinesis research that the lab was engaged in at the time. Jahn is quoted as saying that six Nobel laureates commented on the lab's work and that two firmly rejected the whole topic, two encouraged his team to push on, and two were unwilling to commit either way, thus indicating that negative and positive scientific opinion on the subject, even at the highest level, is not absolute.[9] Supporters of research in the field point out that many things in science were once thought impossible and ridiculed, only later to be proven true.[9] Henry Margenau, David Bohm, and O. Costa de Beauregard have publicly stated that they believe that nothing in quantum physics forbids the existence of psi phenomena.[9] Nobel laureate Brian Josephson has stated that the results of experiments in quantum physics that he has seen have produced more compelling evidence for the hypothetical existence of psi effects than the results of experiments done in the lab so far by parapsychologists.[9][13]
Psychokinesis in Popular Culture
See also
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References
Further Reading
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