Essay Instructions: Use a plain, 12 point font. And it should conform to the Philosophy Department Writing Guidelines at: http://www.csus.edu/phil/req/writing.htm
There should be three numbered headings.
1. Find reports of a paranormal phenomena. Your sources could include (but are not limited to) friends, family, television, documentaries, newspapers, magazines, books, the Internet, and so on. The reports must be presented as non-fiction. That is, the source cannot be fictional. (So you cannot use the Lord of the Rings as evidence for the existence of magic.) If you use stories from people, try to interview them. Include information about what your source is-the newspaper, the book, the website, etc.
In section 1, you should write a single sentence where you state what paranormal phenomena is being reported, who reports it, and where or how they report it.
Example: John Smith, on his website at www.xxx.com, reports that he has seen ghosts in his house on numerous occassions.
2. In section 2 you should describe the phenomena in more detail and present the evidence that has been given to show that it is real. Being as objective and non-critical as possible, do you best to clearly describe what the phenomena is. What is the power? What is the event? What happened exactly? What evidence is there? How much evidence is there? What kind of evidence is it? Reconstruct an argument in favor of the existence of the paranormal phenomena that is as charitable as you can make it.
Example: Smith claims that several times during the night he has heard creaking noises in the attic, felt cold drafts of air sweeping throught the house when the windows and doors were closed, and upon investigation he saw what he calls an apparition, a glowing, floating entity that moved down the hall and into the attic.
We could construe his argument as: 1. If unexplained events occur like these and a person cannot find any other natural explanation for them, then it is reasonable to conclude that they are authentic and that ghosts exist. 2. These events did occur, they are unexplained, and I cannot find any other natural explanation for them. 3. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the experience was authentic and that ghosts exist.
3. In section 3 you should critically evaluate the argument. Using the tools, principles, terms, and guidelines we have considered in class, explain what is likely to be happening in the cases described in 2. What is the most reasonable explanation? Is the phenomena real? What sort of evidence would help or make the stories more compelling? Are the believers being reasonable? What, if any, fallacies are being committed? What natural or non-paranormal explanations could there be, if any? Draw a conclusion about what a reasonable person should conclude about the phenomena described. Critically evaluate the argument that you reconstructed in 2.
Example: Smith could have been experiencing a real ghost. But some other natural explanations are available. Many people have active imaginations and find these kinds of experiences and reports exciting and entertaining. He may simply be exaggerating or even lying about what he experienced. Furthermore, old houses creak and have cold drafts. Those events are not unusual and probably do not require a super natural explanation. As for the glowing, floating apparition, Smith may be exaggerating, he may have seen something less detailed or clear and later embellished the details. He may have seen car headlights reflecting strangely on the walls, he may have been sleepy, or sleeping, or in an otherwise abnormal state that made it appear that he was seeing these things when in fact he didn't. And again, he may be lying or the victim of a hoax. These reasons lead me to doubt premise one in the argument reconstructed above. Jumping to a supernatural explanation in these circumstances is hasty. A lot more investigation and evidence is needed. If Smith can produce reliable, authentic film footage or pictures, if other people can corroborate his claims, or if we can find some reproducible or tangible evidence in favor of his explanation, that would help his argument a lot.
Some possible topics include:
Crystal ball reading
Loch Ness monster
Chupacabras
Mind Reading
Transcendental Meditation
Demon Possession
Chi
Reflexology
Numerology
Palm Reading
Bigfoot
Yeti
Exorcisms
Miracles
Psychic Phenomena
UFO sightings
UFO abductions
Alien sightings
Stigmata
Paranormal Healing
Herbal Remedies
Homeopathic Remedies
Future vision
Telekinesis
Reincarnation
Ghosts
Telepathy
Curses
Astrology
Chiropractic
Acupuncture
Laying on of Hands
Aroma Therapy
Astral Projection
Out of Body Experiences
Life After Death Experiences
Lucky Items
Lottery and Gambling Techniques
Family Remedies
Recovered Memories
Extra Sensory Perception
Mind over Matter
Magnetic therapy
Mystical Experiences
Religious Visions
Immaculate Conceptions
A Few Paranormal Websites:
Stigmata: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14294b.htm
Crop Circles: www.cropcircleconnector.com
Wide range of mystical phenomena: http://www.themystica.com/mystica/default.html
Telekinesis: http://www.crystalinks.com/telekinesis.html
Loch Ness Monster: http://www.nessie.co.uk/
Bigfoot: http://www.bfro.net/
Reincarnation: http://www.geocities.com/richard_holmes/reincarnation/faq.htm
Alien Abduction: http://www.abduct.com/
Magnet Therapy: http://www.painrelief.org.uk/
Ghosts: http://theshadowlands.net/ghost/
Skeptical Websites:
Center for Scientific Investigation into Claims of the Paranormal: http://www.csicop.org
James Randy: www.randi.org
The Skeptical Dictionary: http://skepdic.com/
Skeptic Magazine: www.skeptic.com
National Council Against Health Fraud: http://www.ncahf.org/
Religious Skeptics: http://www.infidels.org/index.shtml
QuackWatch: http://www.quackwatch.org/index.html