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Volume 7: Number 2: Article 2
Towards an Adequate Epistemology for the Scientific Exploration of Consciousness
Willis W. Harman, Institute of Noetic Sciences, 475 Gate Five Road,
Suite 300, Sausalito, CA 94966
The scientific exploration of phenomena and experience relating to
consciousness (a category which includes many "anomalous" phenomena)
has long been hampered by two obstacles. One is that subjective experience
does not meet the commonly accepted criteria for data in a scientific
analysis, in that it is not public, objective, and replicable. The other
is that many consciousness-related phenomena do not appear to fit comfortably
into the accepted scientific world view. Scientists have improvised
ways of dealing with these two obstacles, so that for much of practical
science (e.g., research on pain) they don't get in the way. Nevertheless,
the situation can hardly be considered satisfactory. Two concepts have
recently come to light which may help liberate us from this predicament
— one new, the other revived from the respected writings of American
philosopher William James. The first, based on recent work by Max Velmans,
involves a different model of perception; the second, referring back
to James' concept of "radical empiricism," proposes a different criterion
for admission of scientific data.
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