Posted by : Sid in (Skeptic News)
Yet more events in May…
Hi All,
Just in case you don’t already have enough events to go to in May, I’ll be doing a couple of talks in London myself.
I’ll be giving my standard “Psychology of Anomalous Experiences” talk (the one with all the best bits in!) to the London branch of Mensa on Tuesday, 13th May, starting at 8 pm at the Devereux pub near Temple tube station and a brand new talk (which I haven’t written yet) to the Society for Psychical Research in Kensington on Thursday, 15th May, starting at 6:35 pm. Both talks are open to the public. Further details below for anyone who is interested.
And if you find you have any spare time after all that, you might like to visit the Debatewise web site at http://www.debatewise.com/categories/life-and-style to comment upon (for or against) a proposition posted there by John Roberts: ”I believe Parapsychology makes a valuable contribution to Science as it looks at some of the difficult and interesting questions other areas of science may find too embarrassing to take on”.
Best wishes,
Chris French
Talk to London branch of Mensa, 13 May 2008: The Psychology of Anomalous Experiences.
A talk by Prof Chris French, Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit, Goldsmiths, University of London. See http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/apru
Summary: Ever since records began, in every known society, a substantial proportion of the population has reported unusual experiences many of which we would today label as “paranormal”. Opinion polls show that the majority of the general public accepts that paranormal phenomena do occur. Such widespread experience of and belief in the paranormal can only mean one of two things. Either the paranormal is real, in which case this should be accepted by the wider scientific community which currently rejects such claims. Or else belief in and experience of ostensibly paranormal phenomena can be fully explained in terms of psychological factors. This presentation will provide an introduction to the sub-discipline of anomalistic psychology, which may be defined as the study of extraordinary phenomena of behaviour and experience, in an attempt to provide
non-paranormal explanations in terms of known psychological and physical factors. This approach will be illustrated with examples relating to a range of ostensibly paranormal phenomena.
All London Mensa Committee lectures are open to the public. As lectures are held on licensed premises and may be of controversial nature, those attending do so at their own risk.
The venue will be at the Templars, the upstairs function room of the Devereux pub near Temple tube station. Good food and beer is available from the downstairs bar. The Devereux pub is in Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. The other end of Devereux Court comes out opposite the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand (near Aldwych). This is a listed 18th century pub. Use www.streetmap.co.uk.. and type in the Post Code WC2R 3JJ.
Young Persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent, and will they please use the Templars entrance and keep well away from the bar. The Templars entrance is the last door on the left when entering Devereux Court from Essex Street.
Evening Time Table.
The room is available from 6 pm at the landlord’s discretion.
7.45 pm - Business affairs, such as discussion over future events.
8 pm prompt - The Speaker.
9 pm - Top up at the bar.
9.15 pm - Notices of events and any other business.
9.20 pm - Questions, comments and answers. You can give your views. The MC’s decision is final.
10.30 pm - End of event. Throwing out time at the discretion of the landlord.
Lecture Charge - £5. However if the speaker or suitable substitute does not turn up, then you will get your money back. The meeting will then be an open forum where you can have your say on any subject of your choice. The MC’s decision will be final.
The Current Organiser is Edmund Meadows, 5 Ramsden Road, Orpington, Kent BR6 0PL, UK. Email - edmundmeadows[at]btinternet.com. Telephone - 01689 830878. All events are under the patronage of the London Mensa Committee, whose chairman is John Thorp, email - john_thorp[at]cix.co.uk.
Talk to the Society for Psychical Research, 15 May 2008: Can Anomalistic Psychology Help Us to Understand Religious Experiences & Beliefs?
PROF CHRIS FRENCH
May 15 2008 6:35 - 8:00
This lecture is presented jointly by THE SOCIETY FOR PSYCHICAL RESEARCH and THE ALISTER HARDY SOCIETY
Anomalistic psychology mainly focuses upon ostensibly paranormal experiences but inevitably many of these have religious overtones. This talk will present an overview of areas of anomalistic psychology that related most closely to the psychology of religion. Prof. French is head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths, Univ. of London and co-editor of The Skeptic Magazine
Lectures are held in the Lecture Hall of the Kensington Central Library, Campden Hill Road, London, W8 7RX. All meetings begin at 6:35pm.
Cost: Members and Associates: Free / Non-Members: £5 / Students, Over 60s or Unwaged: £2. Tea, coffee and Biscuits will be available at £1 per person.
Full details of all SPR events at http://www.spr.ac.uk/expcms/
