| Science and Spirituality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SSP 502: Psi Research |
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| Jeffrey Mishlove, Ph.D. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This course surveys the current scientific knowledge about paranormal phenomena and theories, including synchronicity, distant viewing, clairvoyance, precognition, and survival of consciousness after death. Student Outcomes for This Course Outcome #1 : Students will be able to discuss and describe the empirical approach to psychic functioning and its relationship to both the skeptical and spiritualist viewpoints - as well as to emerging scientific theories. Outcome #2 : Students will be able to identify and describe in writing the application of the scientific methods in the study of extrasensory perception and psychokinesis. Outcome #3: Students will explore distinctions between science and pseudoscience in a variety of areas including astrology, healing and extrasensory perception. Outcome #4: Students will describe in writing evidence for the practical application of extrasensory abilities. Course Sessions and Topics This course is organized into ten one-hour audio sessions. The introductory session on Parapsychology and Its Critics, is presented in both an audio and video format to better acquaint the student with Dr. Mishlove. The ten sessions are organized into a thoughtful effective presentation on this topic. We recommend you study the tapes in their sequential order:
Required Reading Mishlove, Jeffrey, The Roots of Consciousness , New York : Marlowe, 1997. Radin, Dean, The Conscious Universe , New York : Harper Collins, 1997. Check availability with PRS first, if not available contact Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Recommended Resources on the Internet www.ed.ac.uk/~ejua35/parapsy.htm Phone Conferences : From 5:00 to 6:00 P.M., Pacific Coast Time , all students participate in these conferences with Dr. Mishlove. The first conference will also give you an opportunity to clarify any questions you may have about the course. Each conference has been designed around lectures and topics. See Conference Calls with Faculty in Table of Contents for call in numbers and procedures. Topics for First Conference Call - Thursday, January 18, 2007 (1) Be prepared to discuss extrasensory perception Topics for Second Conference Call – Thursday, February 22, 2007 (1) Be prepared to discuss Psi healing Email Discussion Group "holmesspirit" The email discussion group plays a very important role in this course .All students are expected to post their paper to this group. This means careful attention to typing and line formatting - so that papers can easily be read by all of the other students in the course. All students will then have the opportunity of benefiting from the feedback offered for each paper. All students with a current email address listed with Holmes Institute are automatically subscribed to the email discussion group for this course. Use this email address: If you desire to respond to an individual in the group, please use his/her personal email address on your class roster or the Faculty Directory for Winter Quarter 2007 in the Table of Contents for contact information. Course Outline - Weeks 1 through 3 This outline gives a brief description of how to pace your self-study and gauge your progress in the required course activities throughout the academic quarter. Lesson Objectives: 1. describe in writing the empirical approach as applied to extrasensory perception. Required Reading : Mishlove text, section three First Assessment Experience: Complete a short essay (approximately 1200 words) which evaluates an apparent extrasensory experience you have learned about. This evaluation should weigh the empirical, skeptical and spiritualist perspectives. Scientific theoretical considerations should also be included as it seems appropriate. Essays should be posted to the email discussion list and should be properly formatted for that purpose . An “A” paper will include careful considerations from empirical, skeptical, spiritualist and scientific theoretical perspectives. It will weigh and balance the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. A “B” paper will cover at least three of the four approaches listed above in a careful fashion. A “C” paper will cover at least two of the primary perspectives, carefully weighing and balancing strengths and weakness of each. Your paper must be posted to the email discussion list and properly formatted for that purpose. No mailed or faxed papers will be accepted for this course. Your first paper must be posted on or before January 26, 2007. Course Outline - Weeks 4 through 7 Lesson Objectives : 4. to understand the application of empirical science to psychokinesis and psi healing Required Reading : Mishlove text, section two Second Assessment Experience: Students who wish extra credit may complete a second short essay (about 1200 words) which evaluates an apparent instance of psychokinesis, psi healing, survival after death, or a practical application of psychic awareness. The same criteria will apply to this essay as described for the first assessment experience. Essays should be posted to the email discussion list and should be properly formatted for that purpose. Your paper must be posted to the email discussion list. No faxed or mailed papers will be accepted for this course. Your second paper must be posted on or before February 16, 2007. Course Outline - Weeks 8 through 10 Lesson Objectives: 8. demonstrate in writing an understanding of the application of empirical science to Required Reading : Mishlove text, section one Third Assessment Experience: Write a concluding, topical paper (about 1800 words) on a subject or an issue of great interest to you pertaining to Psi Research. Your paper should demonstrate that you are acquainted with the background database of empirical studies relating to your subject area. It should weigh and balance the skeptical and spiritualist positions. It should include discussion of scientific theory and evidence that you have the ability to demonstrate an understanding of Objectives #8 and #9 as appropriate. The same criteria will apply to the grading of this paper as described for the first and second assessment experiences. Your final paper must be posted to the email discussion list on or before March 12, 2007. No mailed or faxed papers will be accepted for this course. Guidelines for Success Students are encouraged to play an active role in the email discussion list. Further questions regarding expectations, grading and standards can be addressed in some detail using that forum. All papers should be well written, reflecting a thoughtful analysis of the topics requested. Each paper should provide an objective, well-reasoned summary of the scientific research and information presented in this course and information used from any other resource material or sources. All papers should be neatly typed, formatted, sources documented, and turned in on time.
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