Skeptic - 2003 - Vol 16 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: The Skeptic
Issue: Volume 16 Number 2
Date: Summer 2003
Publisher: CSICOP and Skeptical Inquirer
Country: United Kingdom
ISSN: 0959-5228

This issue of The Skeptic magazine focuses on critical examination of paranormal claims and the scientific basis for understanding phenomena. It features articles on the validity of parapsychological research, the origins of life, and the psychology of belief.

Editorial

Julia Nunn and Chris French, the editors, welcome readers to issue 16.2. They highlight the three-part assessment of parapsychology by David Marks, with this installment focusing on ganzfeld experiments. Marks's findings have reportedly caused shockwaves in the parapsychology community. The editorial also introduces an article by Steve Stewart-Williams on the origin of life, which offers scientific explanations to counter creationist arguments. The editors note the current mood of apprehension due to the war in Iraq and the rise in superstition and psychic medium popularity, humorously referencing Matthew Coniam's article on Derek Acorah. They encourage reader contributions and remind subscribers about the upcoming 11th European Skeptics Congress in London.

Hilary Evans' Paranormal Picture Gallery

This section features an image and accompanying text by Hilary Evans, titled "PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, BUT IT WON'T NECESSARILY HELP." The text is a humorous, fictionalized account of a conversation in Heaven regarding a Russian Orthodox pope urging troops on with a crucifix during a battle. It satirizes divine intervention and nationalistic fervor, concluding with the observation that the Japanese won the battle of Kiu-Lien-Cheng on May 1, 1904.

Contents

The magazine includes a range of articles and regular features:

• Editorial by Julia Nunn and Chris French
• Hits and Misses
• Skeptic at large... by Wendy M Grossman
• What are we to make of Exceptional Experience? Part 2: Ganzfeld Studies by David Marks
• Skeptical Stats
• Life From Non-Life: Must We Accept a Supernatural Explanation? by Steve Stewart-Williams
• The Misfit World of Derek Acorah by Matthew Coniam
• Rhyme and Reason by Steve Donnelly
• Philosopher's Corner by Julian Baggini
• ASKE News
• Reviews
• Letters

Skeptic at large...

Wendy M Grossman discusses the prevalence of belief in the paranormal, questioning why intelligent people often subscribe to such ideas. She argues that belief in the paranormal is not linked to intelligence and cites examples like Cherie Booth's advisors. Grossman suggests that a historical distrust of science, exacerbated by its association with scary technologies and the perceived loss of the 'human touch' in medicine, has contributed to this. She also critiques the feminist movement for not embracing science more fully. As an illustration, she shares a rare 1927 newsreel of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle discussing his views on spiritualism, noting how Doyle's extensive personal experience led him to dismiss opposing arguments, drawing a parallel to Sherlock Holmes's detachment from rational thought.

What are we to make of Exceptional Experience? Part 2: Ganzfeld Studies

David Marks critically examines the ganzfeld research, a key area for parapsychology, which investigates the alleged ability of a sender to transmit information about a target picture to a receiver under conditions of mild sensory deprivation. Marks notes that while proponents like Bem & Honorton (1994) claimed the data supported anomalous processes like telepathy, a joint communiqué by Hyman & Honorton (1986) called for more stringent research. Marks reviews studies conducted after these guidelines were established, including a meta-analysis by Milton and Wiseman (1999) which found the ganzfeld effect to be statistically insignificant. He also discusses how Bem and Honorton's findings regarding variables influencing psi scoring (e.g., dynamic targets, prior psi experiences, mental discipline) were not consistently replicated in newer studies, and that some of their original supporting evidence was questionable.

Life From Non-Life: Must We Accept a Supernatural Explanation?

Steve Stewart-Williams addresses the creationist argument that life's complexity necessitates a supernatural origin. He acknowledges the temptation to accept this view but presents recent scientific experiments that offer plausible naturalistic explanations for how life originated, suggesting that science is providing answers to this fundamental question.

The Misfit World of Derek Acorah

Matthew Coniam provides a humorous account of a psychic medium's 'bad night', likely critiquing the practices and claims of figures like Derek Acorah, and highlighting the irrational thinking that can accompany such beliefs.

Science in the courtroom

This section discusses the application and scrutiny of scientific evidence in legal settings. It highlights that scientific evidence for common beliefs, such as the uniqueness of handwriting, is sometimes lacking. The article notes that while handwriting analysis is evolving, lie detectors (polygraphs) have been questioned for their inaccuracy, with the American Academy of Sciences deeming them a threat to national security. The case of Wen Ho Lee, a scientist wrongly accused based on polygraph results, is cited as an example of failure.

Bad science

This piece reports on scientific fraud, specifically mentioning Jan Hendrik Schön, a Bell Labs scientist who was found to have reused data in multiple research papers. The article discusses the challenges in peer review, especially in highly specialized fields, and the difficulty of detecting fraud when reviewers do not know the origin of the work. It also touches upon the issue of scientists sometimes withholding unfavorable data. The authors suggest that researchers into the paranormal should not be held to a higher standard of honesty than physicists.

Mad science

This short section notes that the company Clonaid, associated with the Raelians, failed to produce a DNA sample to prove their claim of cloning a baby named 'Eve'. The article briefly explains the Raelians' beliefs about aliens and cloning, and satirizes the media's coverage of the event, questioning the responsibility of sensationalizing such stories.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a skeptical and evidence-based approach to understanding phenomena. It encourages critical thinking, rigorous scientific methodology, and challenges pseudoscientific claims. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of rational explanations and scientific inquiry, while also acknowledging the psychological and social factors that contribute to belief in the paranormal. The publication aims to inform readers about the latest research and debates in parapsychology, science, and critical thinking, often with a touch of humor and satire.

This issue of The Skeptic, Volume 16 Number 2, features a cover story titled "Life from Non-Life: Must We Accept a Supernatural Explanation?" by Steve Stewart-Williams. The magazine also includes a section called "Skeptical Stats" and an article critiquing psychic mediums.

Life from Non-Life: Must We Accept a Supernatural Explanation?

Steve Stewart-Williams investigates the fundamental question of how life on Earth began, exploring the debate between naturalistic and supernatural explanations. He begins by addressing the common question of 'chicken or the egg' to pivot to the more profound question of life's origin.

Naturalistic vs. Supernatural Explanations

The article divides attempts to explain life's origin into two main classes: naturalistic explanations and supernatural ones. Naturalistic explanations posit that life arose through the natural workings of physics and chemistry. Supernatural explanations, such as the traditional Judeo-Christian view, claim life is a product of divine intervention. The latter is represented by creationism, which posits that God created the earth and all life about 6,000 years ago as separate, unchanging creations.

The Theory of Evolution and Spontaneous Generation

Naturalistic explanations trace back to thinkers like Aristotle, who accepted the theory of spontaneous generation – the idea that life arises spontaneously from non-living matter. Early observers found evidence for this, such as maggots forming from rotting meat. However, Louis Pasteur's experiments in the nineteenth century disproved spontaneous generation as it was then understood, showing that life only comes from pre-existing life. This led some to suggest life might be eternal, but modern cosmology indicates the universe is not eternal, thus life cannot be either.

Darwinian Evolution and the Origin of Life

The article clarifies that Darwin's theory of evolution, while a major scientific breakthrough explaining the diversity and change within species, is silent on the origin of life itself. Evolution requires life to already exist. The scientific counterpart to creationism is not evolution, but the study of how life originated naturally.

Modern Scientific Accounts of Life's Origin

Scientists generally believe the emergence of the first life was a natural process, occurring billions of years ago through a period of chemical evolution preceding biological evolution. This is not spontaneous generation in the old sense, but a slow, complex series of chemical reactions. The creationist argument that life is too complex for natural processes is addressed. While creating the basic building blocks of life (like amino acids) is achievable, arranging them into the first living, self-replicating entities remains a significant mystery.

The Miller-Urey Experiment and Beyond

Stanley Miller's 1953 experiment, simulating early Earth conditions, produced amino acids, supporting the idea that essential molecules could form naturally. Further research suggests organic molecules are found in meteorites and interstellar dust. However, forming self-replicating molecules from these building blocks is still a challenge, likened by astronomer Fred Hoyle to a Boeing 747 being assembled by a tornado.

Addressing Creationist Arguments

The article counters the creationist tactic of pointing to gaps in scientific knowledge. It argues that these gaps may be filled in the future, or that evidence for primitive life may have been destroyed. More strongly, it states that deficiencies in one theory do not prove another theory. The article questions why creationism should be favoured over a naturalistic view, especially when the latter is consistent with other scientific knowledge and has led to significant breakthroughs.

The 'RNA World' Hypothesis

Researchers are exploring hypotheses like the 'RNA world', where RNA molecules, simpler chemical cousins of DNA, may have been the first self-replicating entities. Evidence suggests RNA can form on clay surfaces and replicate in the lab, offering a plausible answer to how life originated.

The Limits of Science and the Appeal of Creationism

Despite the remaining puzzles and gaps in the scientific account of life's origin, the article suggests there is good reason to favour a naturalistic view. Positing a divine creator does not solve the mystery of existence but rather increases it by introducing an even more mysterious being. The article concludes that while the exact details of life's origin remain elusive, it is reasonable to believe life developed naturally from non-living matter through a process of chemical and then biological evolution.

The Misfit World of Derek Acorah

Matthew Coniam reviews an evening of spiritualism and clairvoyance featuring psychic medium Derek Acorah. Coniam finds Acorah to be incompetent and his performance to be a 'bad night', characterized by vague statements, lucky guesses, and a reliance on audience participation and pre-existing knowledge.

Acorah's Performance and Tactics

Coniam describes Acorah's act as a departure from traditional mediums, entering with dramatic music and an American voice-over. Acorah sells books, DVDs, and his own magazine. His performance involves making broad, often inaccurate, statements and then backtracking or reinterpreting them as symbolic when challenged. Examples include asking about a 'Dorothy' which is identified as a mother's second name, or a vague question about someone being 'bugged' leading to advice about friendships.

Exploitation of Grief and Need

Despite the perceived lack of skill, Coniam notes that the audience often applauds, suggesting that the need for comfort and meaning, especially for grieving individuals, overrides critical judgment. Acorah's claims that spirits do not lie, but people do, highlight the disconnect between his purported source of information and the actual performance. The article suggests that Acorah's success, even after a poor performance, stems from meeting an intense human need for reassurance about life's meaning.

Skepticism Towards Psychic Mediums

Coniam concludes that while Acorah is a bad medium, this does not mean good mediums do not exist. However, he criticizes the cynical exploitation of vulnerable people, particularly those dealing with loss, for financial gain. The article implies that the audience's willingness to believe, coupled with the medium's lack of genuine ability, makes for a disheartening spectacle.

Skeptical Stats

This section presents a numbered list of 25 statistics, often quirky or surprising, sourced from various publications. Examples include:

1. The number of facial expressions a sophisticated humanoid robot (K-bot) can display (28).
2. The number of motors in K-bot's face (24).
3. The number of electric toothbrushes designed to plug into a USB port (1).
4. The age by which men's sperm motility typically decreases 60 percent (40).
5. The cost of a pre-nuptial insurance policy for a British couple's pets (£25,000).
6. The percentage of Britons identifying as Jedi in the 2001 census (0.7%).
7. The number of Britons who participated in Richard Wiseman's 'Mind Machine' ESP experiment (27,856).
8. The number of members of the International Flat Earth Research Society (nearly 4,000).
9. The percentage of people alive today who have ever lived (10%).
10. The number of women who accused Steven Spielberg of spying on her contacts with aliens (1).
11. The amount paid to the Hare Krishnas to settle a lawsuit for insulting advertisements (£25,000).
12. The percentage by which gum-chewers' memory improved in a study (35%).
13. The amount paid by companies behind psychic 'Miss Cleo' in a settlement ($500 million).

The section also includes a list of sources for these statistics and thanks contributors.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Skeptic magazine consistently adopts a critical and evidence-based stance, particularly concerning claims of the paranormal, supernatural, and pseudoscientific. This issue exemplifies this by dissecting the scientific debate on the origin of life, favouring naturalistic explanations over creationism, and by critically examining the practices of psychic mediums, exposing their methods and potential exploitation. The 'Skeptical Stats' section, while often humorous, reinforces the magazine's focus on verifiable data and the debunking of unsubstantiated claims. The editorial stance is one of promoting rational inquiry and scientific understanding, challenging beliefs that lack empirical support.

Title: The Skeptic
Issue: Volume 16, Number 2
Date: 2003

This issue of The Skeptic magazine delves into various phenomena and ideas through a critical and skeptical lens, featuring articles on alleged supernatural events, philosophical reflections, skeptical organizations' activities, and in-depth book reviews.

Rhyme and Reason by Steve Donnelly

Steve Donnelly recounts a personal experience shared by his daughter, who witnessed a purported apparition of the Virgin Mary on a fencepost at Coogee Beach, Australia. Donnelly frames this event within the context of other reported miraculous images and phenomena, suggesting that such sightings can often be explained by the human brain's pattern-making abilities when faced with ambiguous visual input, especially under conditions of dim light or defocused vision. He notes the commercial benefits to local shopkeepers from the influx of visitors and the minor controversy caused by vandalism and subsequent repair of the fencepost. Donnelly humorously speculates on the reasons for the apparition's appearance in Australia, including comforting victims of the Bali bombing or disapproving of topless bathers. His daughter, however, saw only a fencepost, later comparing the experience to recognizing Princess Leia from Star Wars, highlighting the subjective nature of perception.

Philosopher's Corner by Julian Baggini

Julian Baggini reflects on the disconnect between the study of philosophy and the cultivation of moral character. He shares an anecdote about an email exchange with philosopher Martha Nussbaum, whose serious suggestion of a compulsory two-semester philosophy course to foster self-examination and responsibility he found surprising. Baggini expresses disappointment that many people dedicated to philosophy do not exhibit the virtues traditionally associated with it. He posits that academic philosophy has become divorced from the pursuit of wisdom and right living. However, he also notes that enthusiastic non-academics can be equally, if not more, problematic. Baggini illustrates this with examples of personal vendettas, blackmail threats, and unprofessional conduct within the philosophical community. He concludes that while philosophy can aid in making moral choices and formulating public policy, it does not inherently make individuals 'better' people on a personal level.

ASKE News

Michael Heap, Chairman of the Association for Skeptical Enquiry (ASKE), reports on the organization's ongoing emulation of James Randi's challenge, offering £11,000 for demonstrated psychic or telepathic abilities. To date, the project has yielded disappointing results, with few serious claimants and those who have come forward offering vague or absurd claims. Examples include a claimant who simply demanded the reward without providing evidence and another who claimed a guru in Delhi could provide information but refused to travel. A more complex claim involving matching statements to names resulted in only two correct matches out of ten. ASKE also examined a video claiming to show alien beings, which was identified as insects filmed at close quarters. Heap concludes that the world can be divided into those who dismiss such absurdities and those who find them revealing about human life.

The section also announces the 11th European Skeptics Congress in London from September 5-7, 2003, listing several notable speakers. It also promotes ASKE's annual periodical, 'The Skeptical Intelligencer', highlighting articles on alternative medicine and anomalous beliefs, including a rare account of a hypnotic interview concerning alien abduction.

Book Reviews

This issue features several book reviews:

• The Ghost in the Universe: God in Light of Modern Science by Taner Edis: Reviewed by Willem Betz, this book is praised for its comprehensive examination of various arguments for the existence of God, from metaphysical philosophy to quantum mysticism. Edis respectfully deconstructs these arguments, suggesting that as scientific understanding grows, the concept of a traditional, intervening God becomes less necessary. The review notes that Edis does not reject religion but views it as an art form of myths and magical thinking that can provide pleasure.

• Aliens: Can We Make Contact with Extraterrestrial Intelligence? by Andrew J H Clark and David H Clark: Reviewed by John Gillies, this book by a father-son team of experts in astronomy, physics, and philosophy is described as starting with a strong critique of alien abduction claims. The authors argue that the vast distances in the universe make extraterrestrial visitation highly improbable. The review highlights the book's discussion of the Fermi Paradox and the McCrea Question, concluding with advice on becoming a SETI scientist.

• The Mind Made Flesh: Frontiers of Psychology and Evolution by Nicholas Humphrey: Reviewed by Ray Ward, this collection of essays covers a wide range of topics including the self, multiple personality disorder, altruism, and the mind-body problem. While not an academic text, the pieces are noted as entertaining and thoughtful, with footnotes providing guidance for further reading. The review suggests the book is suitable for casual reading rather than systematic study of evolutionary psychology.

• (UN)IDENTIFIED OBJECTS: UFOs and How to See Them by Jenny Randles and The Mammoth Book of UFOs by Lynn Picknett: Reviewed by Ciaran James O'Keeffe, these two books are assessed for their contribution to the field of UFO literature. Randles' handbook is noted for its 100 photographs and a chapter on Identified Flying Objects (IFOs) with a helpful flow diagram. Picknett's book, lacking photographs, is found to be more chatty and questioning in its presentation of cases. Both authors attempt to provide natural explanations for UFO reports.

• Rivals: Conflict as the Fuel of Science by Michael White: Reviewed by John Gillies, this book explores the role of personal, political, and ideological conflicts in driving scientific developments from the Renaissance to the present day. The review highlights White's skeptical stance and his illustrations of how entrenched ideologies have hampered scientific progress. The book is described as an enjoyable and balanced account of scientific rivalries.

• Darwin's Mistake: Antediluvian Discoveries Prove Dinosaurs and Humans co-existed by Dr. Hans J Zillmer: Reviewed by Donald Rooum, this book is characterized as a work of 'self-satisfied ignorance'. The review critiques Zillmer's claims about evidence for dinosaurs and humans co-existing, pointing out flaws in his arguments, such as misinterpreting scientific data and misunderstanding evolutionary concepts.

Letters

Youens takes up Keen's challenge: Tony Youens responds to a case highlighted by Montague Keen, presenting an alternative, non-paranormal explanation for the psychic information provided by medium Christine Holohan regarding the murder of Jacqueline Poole. Youens suggests that someone who knew the murderer, Anthony 'Pokie' Ruark, may have passed the information to the medium to anonymously guide the police without revealing their own identity or risking retribution. He notes that Ruark was already a suspect and that the information provided by the medium was not entirely new or helpful regarding the location of missing jewelry. Youens concludes that the conviction was ultimately due to diligent police investigation and advances in forensic science, not supernatural intervention.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of The Skeptic revolve around the critical examination of paranormal claims, pseudoscientific theories, and the nature of belief. The magazine consistently promotes a rational, evidence-based approach, challenging extraordinary claims with scientific explanations and logical analysis. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, aiming to debunk pseudoscience and encourage critical thinking, as evidenced by the book reviews and the ASKE news section. The magazine also touches upon philosophical questions regarding the nature of humanity, morality, and the pursuit of knowledge, often contrasting these with the limitations and potential pitfalls of uncritical belief systems.