8.1.1 Reasoned Analysis and Empirical Claims
Reasoned Analysis
Question at Issue:
Has an increase in extrasensory perception in the media caused an increase in those who believe in ESP?
Information and Evidence:
- Clinical trials and studies that disprove the effect and existence of ESP
- Research analysis on how ESP affects the mind
- Student conducted research
- The history of ESP and its relevance today
- The relationship between popular movies and ESP
Assumptions:
- There are certain humans that claim to possess telekinetic or clairvoyant abilities; for example, psychics, shamans, or mediums.
- Previous research has disproved the existence of ESP and correlates ESP with control issues and anxiety.
- Belief in ESP across the population is common.
Concepts:
- The 6 major categories of ESP
- Human superstition
- Locus of control
Context:
- Psychological
- Theological
- Historical
- Entertainment
Point of View:
- Neurologist
- Psychologist
- Theologist
- Individuals claiming to possess supernatural abilities
- Director/filmmaker
Purpose:
- To differentiate between personal intuition and supernatural abilities
- To demonstrate the media’s influence in the spread of ESP
- To uncover the origins of ESP and how they influence its current validity
- To question the use of mediums, psychics, tarot card readers, etc.
Implications and Consequences:
- If there is a correlation between media and belief in ESP, it would stand to reason that the media can affect public belief through repetition, even in the supernatural.
- If the media has had no influence on increased belief in ESP, it stands to reason that the cause of this influx must boil down to what most other pseudosciences do: superstition, a need for control, etc.
Conclusions and Interpretations:
While most people do not give ESP credibility based on fictional films, its consistent presence in media has made it highly desirable and contributed to its popularity.
Disciplinary Lenses
Psychology
Question at issue:
What psychological factors can lead to the belief in or the experience of ESP?
Information and Evidence:
- Clinical studies
- Medical records
- Neurological imaging
Assumptions:
- Psychology can explain why people believe that they experience ESP.
- The belief of ESP is better explained through psychology rather than neurology as no physical evidence has been discovered.
Concepts:
- Mental health
- Abuse and trauma
- Drug abuse/hallucinations
Context:
- Medical
- Emotional
Point of View:
- Psychologist
- Patients
- Psychiatrist
- Neurologist
Purpose:
- To understand how ESP can be traced back to traumatic experiences, drug abuse, or mental illnesses
- To explain that there is no physical evidence of ESP and firsthand experiences are strictly mental
Implications and Consequences:
- ESP can be a result of mental issues stemming from a need for control and an overactive imagination.
- Individuals may have underlying beliefs in religion or the supernatural that correlate with belief in ESP.
Conclusions and Interpretations:
- There are varying levels of belief in ESP, some experiences may be due to trauma or difficult life experiences whereas others may have roots in religious beliefs.
Theology
Question at Issue:
How does extrasensory perception influence the formation and continuation of religion?
Information and Evidence:
- Religious texts
- Religious practices
- History of religious formation
Assumptions:
- Religious believers engage in the supernatural when communicating with deities, performing miracles, etc.
- Religion can often have fundamental aspects that involve ESP, but it has also been shown to have social and mental benefits for many.
Concepts:
- Religion
- Occultism
Context:
- Historical
- Spiritual
Point of View:
- Theologists
- Practicing religious believers
- Non-religious individuals
Purpose:
- To understand how and why ESP is an integral part of many religions
- To discern the correlation between belief in ESP and religious participation
Implications and Consequences:
- The term extrasensory perception is relatively new, but the general ideas involving such beliefs have been integral to the formation of almost every religion currently known.
- While opinions and dogmas vary greatly, there are many who continue to support their convictions in the modern day through spiritual experiences or practices such as prayer and miracle-working.
Conclusions and Interpretations:
- Belief in ESP has greatly contributed to the formation of many religions, and vice versa. Humans are prone to look for comfort and safety through a higher power or supernatural influence, which may provide a way to ease anxiety.
Film Studies
Question at Issue:
How has extrasensory perception in filmmaking affected the popularity of genres and movies?
Evidence and Information:
- Data analysis
- Student conducted surveys
- Highest-grossing movies and TV shows
Assumptions:
- Many people are first introduced to ESP through film or media.
- The portrayal of ESP is usually positive and may lead to it being seen as desirable.
Concepts:
- Filmmaking
- Screenplay
- Plot structure
Context:
- Cultural
- Film history
Point of View:
- Producers
- Audience members
- Directors
- Screenwriters
Purpose:
- To understand why ESP has become so prevalent in film genres
- To try and determine if there is a link between increased interest in ESP and the prevalence of ESP in visual media
Implications and Consequences:
- Advancements in technology and special effects have made themes of ESP more interesting and visually appealing, contributing to the popularity of genres with fictional depictions of ESP.
- People often want new and original forms of entertainment, which are easily developed when considering the realm of the supernatural.
Conclusions and Interpretations:
- Many of the most popular film franchises contain depictions of ESP, which suggests that its influence on film has been significant.
- Though it is unlikely that fictional stories are leading people to a blind acceptance of ESP, it seems plausible that there is a correlation between increased media presence and belief in ESP.
Empirical Claims
Inductive Reasoning:
True Premise 1: Many of the highest-grossing films have some form of extra-sensory perception for the purpose of plotlines or character-building.
True Premise 2: As the quality of films has increased, movie franchises have drawn a larger audience.
Weak Inductive Reasoning: With the quality increase of films, people believe ESP is attainable because of how realistic it looks on the big screen. (Argument uses Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc fallacy)
Logical Conclusion: People are drawn to films containing high-quality visuals of ESP because it is interesting and unique.
Deductive Reasoning:
True Premise 1: The belief in ESP has been around for a long time.
True Premise 2: The use of ESP features prominently in many religions, both modern and ancient.
Weak Deductive Reasoning: Therefore, the historical and religious use of ESP proves that it must bear some credibility in the modern day. (Argument uses the bandwagon and genetic fallacies; the history and/or common belief in ESP does not make it true.)
Logical Conclusion: The historical use of ESP only goes to show that, much like religion, people turn to the supernatural for comfort and a sense of control.
Abductive:
Observation: Various fictional movies have either predicted future technologies or featured real-world cutting-edge science as a basis for their science fiction.
Weak Explanation: Many movies must feature ESP because it exists somewhere in the real world. (Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc)
Logical Explanation: ESP is featured in popular movies simply because it is entertaining and can serve various purposes in forming a plot.
Logical Fallacies
The Bandwagon Appeal
The media has presented countless examples, uses, and ideations of extrasensory perception through movies, books, and TV shows (Harry Potter, Marvel Movies, Star Wars). The popularity of ESP seems to give it some credibility simply because there are so many who believe in it.
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
The prevalence of ESP in popular culture does not mean that the nature of its commerciality in any way proves or supports the existence of ESP. (Lavin 2020, p. 110)
Ad Hominem
When individuals are unable to experience or ‘attain’ ESP, parapsychologists, and other believers can easily write off others as “not having the gift”. This makes it such that there is no way to prove or disprove experiences of ESP and indicates that anyone not experiencing ESP simply wasn’t lucky enough to be born with it. (Lavin 2020, p. 86)
Wishful Thinking
Science has disproved the existence of extrasensory perception through studies, experiments, and examinations. Though these studies are credible and have been retested many times, psychics, mediums, and necromancers still push the idea of ESP onto others to keep the belief alive. (Merced, 2018)
Magical Thinking
According to magical thinking, anything can supposedly be manifested in reality simply by believing it is true. ESP believers try to manifest their beliefs to be true, even when there is no credibility for them. By looking for ESP in every part of their life, they inevitably find coincidences and say that it must be spiritual power. (Merced, 2018)
Genetic Fallacy
Some may say, “People have been practicing ESP for centuries, and there are stories that include it all throughout history, therefore it must exist.” This is a genetic fallacy because an idea’s origins have no effect on its credibility. Just because an idea of something has existed for a long time does not necessarily prove that the idea is real. (Lavin 2020, p. 89)
Cherry Picking
Many of the cases that would prove the inexistence of ESP are often cast aside as it does not fit the agenda of ESP believers. This is a common example of cherry-picking across many pseudosciences. (Lavin 2020, p. 107)