Synopsis:
Issued on the 25th anniversary of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), this book brings together personal statements by the leading skeptics of the world. CSICOP, the first major organization of skeptics on the contemporary scene, is worldwide in scope and is dedicated to the skeptical evaluation of both paranormal and religious claims in the light of scientific inquiry. All of the articles are original and written especially for this collection. Many pieces are autobiographical; others reflect on the current state of research into paranormal claims.
The contributors focus on ESP and parapsychology, astrology, UFOlogy, the difference between science and pseudoscience, alternative medicine, magic, near-death experiences, spiritual energy, Bible codes, and religious claims that purport to have empirical foundations.
Among the thirty-seven distinguished contributors are Martin Gardner (former columnist for Scientific American), Leon Jaroff (former science editor of Time), Philip J. Klass (the leading UFO skeptic), Antony Flew (noted British philosopher), Kendrick Frazier (editor of the Skeptical Inquirer), the late Steve Allen (noted author, comedian, and television pioneer), Bill Nye ("The Science Guy"), Jean-Claude Pecker (one of France's leading astronomers), Joe Nickell (paranormal investigator), Susan J. Blackmore (parapsychologist), Eugenie Scott (critic of "creationism"), among others. Contributors come from the USA, Canada, Britain, France, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, and Russia.
This is a unique and exciting history of the current skeptical movement.
From the Author:
"We hope that the reader of this book will embark with us upon these various skeptical odysseys. They are pluralistic and diverse, yet they enable the reader to explore the power of skeptical thinking and, I submit, to see its value to any civilized community. They also provide overviews of a significant skeptical movement that has emerged in the latter quarter of the twentieth century as it tries not only to grapple with pseudoscience and antiscience but to defend the integrity and significance of science and reason." -- Paul Kurtz
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
