Reappraising Methodological Issues: The Efficacy of Allied Traditions.
By Stephanie Lynne Thorburn.
This article comprises a Chapter excerpt from the Kindle text, 'Consciousness, Human Enigma & Parapsychology' by author Stephanie Lynne Thorburn. The work has been extended and updated into a larger volume, due for release later this year. The new text will be titled, 'Consciousness: An Intuitive Union with Noetic Sciences'.
Précis Text.
The field of Parapsychology would appear to have encountered an apparent philosophical crisis of confidence, both in respect to its status in the public domain and in relation to the scientific, academic community. A series of consistent issues related to the conveyance of key epistemological aspects of Parapsychology display an apparent disregard for the potential individuality and development of the discipline, as an independent sphere of theory and practice for students and Parapsychologists alike. This conceptually disappointing outcome is at least in some substantial part, an inevitable response to the embracing of somewhat uniform methodological ideals shared equally by the contemporary natural and social sciences. Through examination of controversial methodological issues and the exploration of allied disciplines, this paper advocates plurality in the establishment of a more influential and cosmopolitan future for Parapsychology.
Key concepts : Parapsychology, pedagogy, methodology, holistic therapies, epistemology, marginalisation, status.
In my forthcoming paper on Parapsychological pedagogic issues, I have presented a series of comparative Sociological models in regard to the allied areas of Reiki, shamanic healing, meditation and hypnosis. Reflexive issues in connection to this paper relate firstly, to whether these traditions might be universally accepted as legitimate allies for conceptual analysis and conceptual/ ontological integration. Further, I am aware of my own subjective selection and interpretation of the predominant studies currently available in the field of Parapsychology. Researcher and theorist interpretation are integral to the development of coherent discourses and critiques, amounting to what I believe is termed as 'scholarship' or the conveyance of a distinct perspective in the academic domain, rather than simply reappraisal of existing facets to a debate, (see Billig, 1988). I certainly support the maintenance of scientific rigour to ensure methodologically sound validity, reliability and replicability in Parapsychological studies. However, at a more qualitative level of analysis, I am attempting to represent a reasonably concise Sociological theory of comparative esoteric traditions and emerging occupations such as hypnosis and Reiki in relation to the lessons that can be learnt from their distinctive professional ethos.
Parapsychology and Allied Spheres.
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