Binhi V.N. — M.: INFRA-M, 2021. — 559 p., bibl. 204 — ISBN 978-5-16-017426-6 (print), 978-5-16-109614-7 (online). ePrint date: 2021-12-30. In Russian
Do parapsychological phenomena really exist? What forms do they take, how are they related to the well-known mind-body problem, and how possible is their scientific study? How do these questions relate to fundamental philosophical and natural science principles and modern scientific data? What is the boundary between the scientific and the unscientific, and is it possible, without violating scientific principles, to “look” into the area where science is losing its power? The book will be useful to anyone who is interested in such issues; it presupposes a preliminary acquaintance of the reader with physics and philosophy in the scope of university courses.
The book introduces a novel argument advocating the interactionist Cartesian dualism, – a philosophical theory positing that matter and consciousness are ontologically equal interacting substances. This argument is not deductive but rather inductive, as it is based on the generalization of a substantial body of empirical evidence, derived from physical measurements or their estimations. The evidence pertaining to the influence of mental effort on the state of physical things is generalized to form a universal correlative law. According to the law, the reproducibility of the physical effects of consciousness exhibits an inverse proportionality to their relative magnitude. This law delineates the broader reality into distinct domains: one governed by applicable physical laws, another where such laws lack relevance, and an intermediary realm where the physical effects of consciousness might be observable. The law demonstrates that the physical effects of consciousness cannot be strictly proven in a scientific sense. Nevertheless, the law itself is articulated in terms of physically measurable quantities, thereby possessing all the requisite methodological attributes of science. Consequently, the existence of such a law significantly bolsters the ontological stance of the substance dualism, as it becomes verifiable through physical means in principle.
REVIEWS: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th originals in Russian
Preface
Introduction
1. Ontology and the Physical Effects of Consciousness
2. Scientific Method and Its Limitations
3. The Methodology of Psi
4. Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics
5. Physical Research in Psi
6. The Law of Reproducibility
7. Conclusions
The Bibliography
Author Index
Subject Index