Re: science and the supernatural

Steve Clark (ssclark@facstaff.wisc.edu)
Thu, 21 Dec 1995 10:05:00 -0600

I don't know if the example of investigating the "healing properties of
prayer" constitutes an EMBRACEMENT of the the supernatural. It constitutes
an INVESTIGATION perhaps, but I would say that it is premature to say that
science has embraced prayer as a healing tool.

Science has a history of investigating supernatural phenomena, including
phrenology, telekinesis, ghosts, etc. I know of no instance in which
science went beyond a cursory investigation of such fields, and unlike Dave,
I do not predict that it will, unless the "supernatural" has, in fact, a
naturalistic foundation on which to conduct further study.

The problem is that "supernatural" is defined functionally. Stated another
way, when do we become confident that an observed phenomena has no
naturalistic basis?

Cheers,

STeve
__________________________________________________________________________
Steven S. Clark, Ph.D. Phone: (608) 263-9137
Associate Professor FAX: (608) 263-4226
Dept. of Human Oncology and email: ssclark@facstaff.wisc.edu
UW Comprehensive Cancer Ctr
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI 53792

"Philosophers consistently see the method of science before their eyes,
and are irresistibly tempted to ask and answer questions in the way science
does. This tendency...leads the philosopher into complete darkness."
Ludwig Wittgestein, The Blue Book, 1933
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