A Wisdom Archive on Uri Geller - Controversy and criticism

Geller's claims of paranormal powers receive little support within the scientific community, and his critics see him as a very successful con artist. His focus on small feats like spoon bending seems inauthentic to his critics; one asked, for example, why, if Geller's talents were genuine, the Israeli government wasn't using him as a secret weapon to destroy crucial components in the weapons systems of the enemy countries encircling Israel? ...

Read more here: » Uri Geller: Encyclopedia II - Uri Geller - Controversy and criticism

• Uri Geller - History
• Uri Geller - Controversy and criticism
• Uri Geller - Parallels to stage magic
• Uri Geller - Disagreements over measuring success
• Uri Geller - Controlled testing
• Uri Geller - Litigation

Read more here: » Uri Geller: Encyclopedia - Uri Geller

Dowsing is a controversial practice which proponents claim empowers them to find water, metals, gem stones, and hidden objects by carrying or waving a stick or other apparatus over a piece of land and watching for any movement. Repeated tests under controlled conditions have not supported this claim. Dowsers (sometimes known as diviners) may also use a forked branch of a tree, bent pieces of metal or plastic wire, or a small pendulum. Some people use no pointing device at all. Dowsing - Claims made. Most do ... Including:

• Dowsing - Claims made
• Dowsing - History of dowsing
• Dowsing - Dowsing equipment
• Dowsing - Proposed explanations
• Dowsing - Scientific studies
• Dowsing - Sydney
• Dowsing - Munich
• Dowsing - Kassel

Read more here: » Dowsing: Encyclopedia - Dowsing

Psychokinesis (literally "mind-movement") or PK is the more commonly used term today for what in the past was known as telekinesis (literally "distant-movement"). It refers to the psi ability to influence the behavior of matter by mental intention (or possibly some other aspect of mental activity) alone. As of 2004 the term remote influencing is becoming widely used for certain kinds of psychokinesis. Psychokinesis - Psychokinetic events. There have been anecdotal reports of such appare ... Including:

• Psychokinesis - Psychokinetic events
• Psychokinesis - Remote influencing
• Psychokinesis - Cultural references

Read more here: » Psychokinesis: Encyclopedia - Psychokinesis

Abraham Thomas Kovoor (April 10, 1898 - September 18, 1978) was a Sri Lankan professor and Rationalist who gained prominence after retirement for his campaign to expose as frauds various Indian "god-men" and so-called paranormal phenomena. His direct, trenchant criticism of spiritual frauds and organized religions were enthusiastically received by audiences, initiating a new dynamism in the Rationalist movement, especially in India. Born at Thiruvalla in Kerala, Kovoor was the son of Rev. Kovoor Eipe Thomma Katthanar, Vi ... Including:

• Abraham Kovoor - Exposing the famous guru Sathya Sai Baba
• Abraham Kovoor - His publications and challenge
• Abraham Kovoor - Books by and on Prof. Kovoor
• Abraham Kovoor - In English
• Abraham Kovoor - In Malayalam
• Abraham Kovoor - In Hindi
• Abraham Kovoor - In Punjabi

Read more here: » Abraham Kovoor: Encyclopedia - Abraham Kovoor

David Hume (April 26, 1711 – August 25, 1776*) was a philosopher and historian from Scotland. Along with Adam Smith and Thomas Reid, Hume was one of the most important figures in the Scottish Enlightenment. Many regard Hume as the third and most radical of the so-called British Empiricists, after the English John Locke and the Anglo-Irish George Berkeley. Historians most famously see Humean philosophy as a thoroughgoing form of Skepticism, but many commentators have argued that the element of naturalism has no less importance ... Including:

• David Hume - Career
• David Hume - Legacy
• David Hume - Ideas and impressions
• David Hume - The problem of causation
• David Hume - The problem of induction
• David Hume - The bundle theory of the self
• David Hume - Practical reason: instrumentalism and nihilism
• David Hume - Moral anti-realism and motivation
• David Hume - Free will versus determinism
• David Hume - The is-ought problem
• David Hume - Utilitarianism
• David Hume - The problem of miracles
• David Hume - The design argument
• David Hume - Conservatism and political theory
• David Hume - Works

Read more here: » David Hume: Encyclopedia - David Hume

Parapsychology is the study of the evidence of mental awareness or influence of external objects without interaction from known physical means. Most objects of study fall within the realm of "mind-to-mind" influence (such as extra-sensory perception and telepathy), "mind-to-environment" influence (such as psychokinesis) and "environment-to-mind" (such as hauntings). The premiere professional organization, the Parapsychological Association (PA), is a member in good standing of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science ... Including:

• Parapsychology - Types of parapsychology
• Parapsychology - Status of the field
• Parapsychology - How science views the field
• Parapsychology - Interpretation of the evidence
• Parapsychology - Criticisms of parapsychological research
• Parapsychology - Responses from parapsychologists to criticisms
• Parapsychology - Early Scientific American challenge
• Parapsychology - Other objections to parapsychology
• Parapsychology - History and evaluation
• Parapsychology - Trivia
• Parapsychology - Famous parapsychologists
• Parapsychology - Claimed psychics
• Parapsychology - Critics of parapsychology
• Parapsychology - Psychic investigations
• Parapsychology - General organizations
• Parapsychology - Independent research organizations
• Parapsychology - University research organizations
• Parapsychology - External links

Read more here: » Parapsychology: Encyclopedia - Parapsychology

A confidence trick, confidence game, also known as a con or scam, is an attempt to intentionally mislead a person or persons (known as the "mark") usually with the goal of financial or other gain. The confidence trickster, con man, scam artist or con artist often works with one or more accomplices called shills, who try to encourage the mark by pretending to believe the trickster. In a traditional con, the mark is encouraged to believe that they will obtain money dishonestly by c ... Including:

• Confidence trick - Origin of the term
• Confidence trick - Well-known confidence tricks
• Confidence trick - Extra finesse
• Confidence trick - Famous convicted and alleged con artists
• Confidence trick - Confidence tricks in the movies and television
• Confidence trick - Confidence tricks in literature
• Confidence trick - Quotations

Read more here: » Confidence trick: Encyclopedia - Confidence trick