The Social Implications of Psychic Research

By Willis W. Harman

Psychic research, both as a formal discipline within the activity of science and as an informal fascination and exploration in the larger culture, is profoundly affecting habitual modes of thinking and perceiving, and thence social institutions and the culture itself. The characteristics of this paradigm shift are examined in terms of the Perennial Philosophy and the New Freemasonry, and the significance of this view of man in the universe if it were to become dominant is suggested in this final chapter of Psychic Exploration. The full volume of Psychic Exploration can be purchased as an ebook or paperback version from all major online retailers and at cosimobooks.com.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cosimo Books
• Release date: May 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781944529345

Willis W. Harman

WILLIS W. HARMAN, Ph.D. (1919–1997), was the president of the Institute for Noetic Sciences from 1975–1997. Before that, he was a senior social scientist at SRI International, the director of the Center for Study of Social Policy at Stanford Research Institute, and professor of engineering-economic systems at Stanford University. He wrote many papers on metaphysics and spirituality and consciousness.

Book preview

PSYCHIC

EXPLORATION

The Social Implications of Psychic Research

Wills W. Harman

"The Social Implications of Psychic Research," copyright © 1974 by Wills W. Harman. First published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in 1974 as part of Psychic Exploration: A Challenge for Science. Current edition published by Cosimo Classics in 2015.

Cover copyright © 2015 by Cosimo, Inc. Cover design by www.popshopstudio.com.

Cover image #83899506 from clipart.com.

ISBN: 978-1-94452-934-5

For more information, contact us at www.cosimobooks.com

Note to the Readers: This mini-ebook was earlier published as part of a compilation of essays in Psychic Exploration: A Challenge for Science, Understanding the Nature and Power of Consciousness (originally published in 1974; reprinted by Cosimo Books in 2011), edited by Apollo 14 astronaut, moonwalker, and founder of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, Edgar Mitchell.

Each of the 28 chapters in the original Psychic Exploration was dedicated to a specific field of research in parapsychology, written by leading experts and scientists, such as Stanley Krippner, Montague Ullman, Charles Tart, Russel Targ, William Roll, Jean Houston, Willis Harman, and many others. With the advent of ebook technology, we feel that each of these unique essays deserve attention as a dedicated mini-ebook in addition to the complete version of Psychic Exploration.

If you prefer exploring specific subjects or authors, below is a complete list of the individual essays, all available as mini-ebooks. On the other hand, if you are interested in all of the essays and the field of parapsychology in general, we encourage you to read the original Psychic Exploration, available at online bookstores in both paperback and ebook versions.

However you decide to read these essays, we know you will receive a thorough introduction to psychic research in its many forms, from what is now considered a classic in the parapsychology genre. Part of the proceeds of this mini-ebook will benefit the Institute of Noetic Sciences (www.noetic.org).

INDIVIDUAL ESSAYS FROM PSYCHIC EXPLORATION

A History of Parapsychology , by Martin Ebon (978-1-94452-907-9)

Famous Western Sensitives, by Alan Vaughan (978-1-94452-908-6)

The Psychic Personality, by Gertrude Schmeidler (978-1-94452-909-3)

Telepathy, by Stanley Krippner (978-1-94452-910-9)

Clairvoyance, by Rex G. Stanford (978-1-94452-911-6)

Precognition and Retrocognition, by E. Douglas Dean (978-1-94452-912-3)

Psychokinesis, by Helmut Schmidt (978-1-94452-913-0)

Parapsychology Today, by Rhea A. White (978-1-94452-914-7)

The Psychobiology of Psi, by Robert L. Morris (978-1-94452-915-4)

Psi and Psychiatry, by Montague Ullman (978-1-94452-916-1)

Anthropology and Psychic Research, by Robert L. VanDe Castle (978-1-94452-917-8)

Man-Plant Communication, by Marcel Vogel (978-1-94452-918-5)

Psychic Photography and Thoughtography, by Jule Eisenbud (978-1-94452-919-2)

Psychic Research and the Healing Process, by Henry K. Puharich (978-1-94452-920-8)

Out-of-the-Body Experiences, by Charles T. Tart (978-1-94452-921-5)

Apparitions, Hauntings, and Poltergeists, by D. Scott Rogo (978-1-94452-922-2)

Survival Research: Problems and Possibilities, by William G. Roll (978-1-94452-923-9)

The Emergence of Para physics: Research and Applications, by James B. Beal (978-1-94452-924-6)

The Emergences of Para physics: Theoretical Foundations, by Brendan O’Reagan (978-1-94452-925-3)

Psychic Research in the Soviet Union, by Thelma Moss (978-1-94452-926-0)

Devices for Monitoring Nonphysical Energies, by William A. Tiller (978-1-94452-927-7)

Psychic Research and Modem Physics, by Harold Puthoff and Russell Targ (978-1-94452-928-4)

Consciousness and Quantum Theory, by Evan Harris Walker (978-1-94452-929-1)

Psychic Phenomena and Mystical Experience, by Lawrence L. Leshan (978-1-94452-930-7)

Myth, Consciousness, and Psychic Research, by Jean Houston (978-1-94452-931-4)

Consciousness and Extraordinary Phenomena, by Robert Masters (978-1-94452-932-1)

Psi-Conducive States of Awareness, by Charles Honorton (978-1-94452-933-8)

The Social Implications of Psychic Research, by Willis W. Harman (978-1-94452-934-5)

Table of Contents

The Social Implications of Psychic Research

SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

CHALLENGES TO PRESENT PARADIGMS

THE PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY AND THE NEW FREEMASONRY

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EMERGENT PARADIGM

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

Willis W. Harman

The Social Implications of Psychic Research

Wills W. Harman

SUMMARY

Psychic research, both as a formal discipline within