Anomalistics | Skeptical About Skeptics

The term “anomalistics” refers to the study of scientific anomalies, alleged extraordinary events unexplained by currently accepted scientific theory.

Anomalistics deals with empirical claims of the extraordinary – it is not concerned with alleged metaphysical, theological, or supernatural phenomena.

Anomalistics recognizes that unexplained phenomena exist, but does not presume these are unexplainable. It seeks to discover old or to develop appropriate new scientific explanations.

As a scientific enterprise, anomalistics is normatively skeptical and demands inquiry prior to judgement, but skepticism means doubt rather than denial. While recognizing that a legitimate anomaly may constitute a crisis for conventional theories in science, anomalistics also sees them as an opportunity for progressive change in science. Thus, anomalies are viewed not as nuisances but as welcome discoveries that may lead to the expansion of our scientific understanding.

The second key feature of anomalistics is that it is interdisciplinary. A reported anomaly is not presumed to have its ultimate explanation in a particular branch of science. The eventual explanation for an anomaly may turn out to be something new but in an unexpected field. Anomalistics is also interdisciplinary in that it seeks an understanding of scientific adjudication across disciplines. This often involves not only the physical and social sciences, but also the philosophy of science.

Some Unfair Practices Towards Claims of the Paranormal

Discrediting “Extraordinary” Claims by Marcello Truzzi This article was published in slightly edited form in: Oxymoron: Annual Thematic Anthology of the Arts and Sciences Vol.2: The Fringe Edward Binkowski, Editor New York: Oxymoron Media, Inc., 1998 The reception of unconventional or extraordinary claims in science has come under increasing attention by sociologists...

Refusing to Look at the Scientific Evidence for Psi Phenomena

Closing One’s Eyes, Plugging One’s Ears, and Shouting “La la la la la!” by the Editors The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena, by Dean I. Radin (Harper, San Francisco, 1997), is a forceful presentation of the scientific evidence for psi phenomena. Faced with this book, why don’t the skeptics simply...

A Spectrum of Belief

Belief Systems, Categorized by William S. Moulton Adapted from a circa 1990 paper. There is a wide spectrum of levels of consensus and belief, and of the conditions required to achieve them. For example, a situation may be: Assumed When it is “common knowledge,” accepted on a default basis, and no evidence...

Academic Pride and Prejudice

Dogmatic Skepticism in Academia by Stephen Braude From the Preface to: The Limits of Influence: Psychokinesis and the Philosophy of Science, University Press of America, Lanham; Revised edition (1997). I began serious study of the parapsychological literature in the mid 1970s. Something else began shortly thereafter: [my] growing disenchantment with the intellectual community. Before I...

Key Features of Anomalistics

Key Features of Anomalistics The Perspective of Anomalistics by Marcello Truzzi Center for Scientific Anomalies Research © Copyright 1998 by Marcello Truzzi “In their most extreme form, scoffers represent a form of quasi-religious Scientism that treats minority or deviant viewpoints in science as heresies.” Marcello Truzzi What is Anomalistics? The term...