Blackmore to present lecture to SPR

[nbtruthman]

The British Society for Psychical Research (SPR) seems to have come upon a rather sad state. On their website they just announced an SPR lecture by materialist and psi skeptic Susan Blackmore, coming up Dec. 4. At http://www.spr.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=70 : "In anticipation of the publication of an e-version of her classic 1982 book, "Beyond the Body", Prof. Blackmore will give an update on the development of research into Out-of-Body Experiences in the intervening years." Why don't they just invite Dawkins or Wiseman in to really set them straight?

 

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

There shall be no counterpoint.

~~ Paul

 

[Craig Weiler]

The British Society for Psychical Research (SPR) seems to have come upon a rather sad state. On their website they just announced an SPR lecture by materialist and psi skeptic Susan Blackmore, coming up Dec. 4. At http://www.spr.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=70 : "In anticipation of the publication of an e-version of her classic 1982 book, "Beyond the Body", Prof. Blackmore will give an update on the development of research into Out-of-Body Experiences in the intervening years." Why don't they just invite Dawkins or Wiseman in to really set them straight?

It does seem rather odd given the enormous discrepancy between what she's claimed about her research. She was pretty thoroughly smacked down.

 

[TravisMontgomery]

Ah, Susan Blackmore.. like the old meme machine that keeps resurfacing outdated ideas - it's fun to remember the time they were taken seriously and the laughs you got out of it - she is back to preach to the choir and make a bit more popularity for herself.

 

[Imperial Philosopher]

Having Susan Blackmore over for a visit at a psychical research group makes about as much sense as having Ken Ham writing articles over at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

 

[Obiwan]

The British Society for Psychical Research (SPR) seems to have come upon a rather sad state. On their website they just announced an SPR lecture by materialist and psi skeptic Susan Blackmore, coming up Dec. 4. At http://www.spr.ac.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=70 : "In anticipation of the publication of an e-version of her classic 1982 book, "Beyond the Body", Prof. Blackmore will give an update on the development of research into Out-of-Body Experiences in the intervening years." Why don't they just invite Dawkins or Wiseman in to really set them straight?

That was exactly my thought when I got the email. I don't think the SPR would or should avoid 'counterpoints' however surely there are plenty of people who have more credibility than Susan Blackmore?

That said she is one of the few sceptics who have done any, apparently, real research no matter how thin and ancient.

 

[nbtruthman]

There shall be no counterpoint.

~~ Paul

You can be sure that no "counterpoint" is allowed by the organizations of orthodox mainstream science. Imagine the Royal Society or the British Psychological Society inviting Dean Radin in to give a lecture on his presentiment research!

 

[Max_B]

The SPR doesn't take any position on phenomena, everybody is welcome... and you get to see a wide range of opinions at the annual conference... I think it's great.

 

[steve001]

What happened to being open minded?

 

[Imperial Philosopher]

Apparently disagreeing with someone's viewpoints became being closed-minded and sometimes ignorant at some point. And I'm not just talking the topics we discuss here, the same goes on in politics.

 

[Saiko]

To me, this seems very strange. Not because she's become an arch-naysayer but because it is supposedly an update on research into OBEs. Blackmore stopped doing such research and I doubt that she's up to speed on it.