NSA-RDP96X00790R000100030043-8

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/01 : NSA-RDP96X00790R000100030043-8
POR CHIGAL USE ONLY
(b)(3)/
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
13 February 1980
SUBJECT :
Parapsychology Increasing Academic Legitimacy. Evidence
of the Increased Legitimacy and Acceptability of the PSI
Field in Academia.
1.
In the November Issue of OMNI Magazine, is an interview
with Cambridge University's first Ph.D. in parapsychology, Dr. Carl
Sargent. Of considerable interest is the fact that the interview
was conducted by Dr. Christopher Evans, a well-known British
skeptic. Some aspects of the interview are significant. Beginning
with an editorial comment on page 82, "In a field as controversial
as parapsychology, test methods must be tight enough to eliminate
any chance of fraud or of misinterpretating results. Few are -
which is why it is so significant that Sargent's repeated experiments
passed the strict Cambridge examiners." In the experiments, two
series gave 45% correct answers. A fourth yielded 44%, and all
subjects scored better than chance. The principal method used
which yielded such results was the Ganzfeld method, which uses
white noise to cause sensory deprevation and focus the mind on
internal processes. The repeatability rate Sargent reports (on
page 82) is higher with Ganzfeld "then anything in parapsychology -
almost 60 percent." On repeatability Sargent states (page 106) ,
after observing that repeatability is important, that "high
repeatability is only typical of certain areas of the physical
sciences. It's not characteristic of anything but the tiniest
areas of human sciences. The only areas of psychology that have
high replicability are certain areas of psychophysics and classical
conditioning. In both, you are dealing with ludicrously oversim-
plified environments. You say parapsychology has been in action
for fifty years and hasn't achieved much. That may be true.
But experimental psychology has been going for about a hundred
years, and what has it achieved? Sorry to keep sniping at
psychology, but my arguement is that the only realistic data base
against which to examine the achievements of parapsychology is
psychology. Remember the sheer complexity of one's subject matter
in both cases .... when physics starts playing around with complex
systems it soon gets into trouble."
2. Noted in the S-1 Press clipping of 8 January 1980, is
that the Nobel Prize winner Brian Josephson, of the Josephson-effect
computer fame, is leaving physics to study parapsychology. This
is the same Josephson who endorsed the Icelandic (parapsychology)
papers. He is, of course, not really leaving physics but entering
the new field of consciousness/physics which includes portions of
parapsychology. Dr. Jack Sarfatti of the Physics/Censeiousness
Research Group in California met Josephson, a Cambridge student,
-at the Association for Psychical Research Symposium headed by
Mr.Bernard Carr of the Institue for Theoretical Astronomy at-
Cambridge. It -is-intriguing that other -Nobel laureates such as
Richard P. Feynman, T. D. Lee, and Munnay Gell-Mann are interested
in this new field. It may and probably will eventually contain
the main thrust for future physics .* It has great promises and
some awful possibilities. The occult power-hungry orientation
of some of the groups reminds us too much of the Nazi horror.
We ought not make the same mistake that we did with the Nazi's.
- Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/01 : NSA-RDP96X00790R000100030043-8

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/01 : NSA-RDP96X00790R000100030043-8
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Just because someone is making insane use of principles and mixes
truth with nonsense, does not mean that the principles are incorrect
or without power to affect history.
3. It should be noted from a sociological point of view
that in Western Society during the 60's and 70's, the acceptance
level concerning PSI among large segments of the population rose
significantly. Willingness to use such power also rose dramatically.
These twin surges are evidenced by :
a. The rise in the number of popular publications about
PSI.
b. The number of new power oriented cults which arose
(Silva mind control, Covens, Satanists, Jonestown, etc.)
c. The number and impact of new motion pictures
containing PSI material.
d. The fact that all major Chirstian denominations
representing over 1 billion people have endorsed the view that
the gifts of the Holy Spirit (many of which are PSI powers ** )
are for the average Christian to use. Over 30 million persons
of various denominations have been trained in their use.
e. The Hasidic movement within Judaism indicates
the use of such powers. Certain aspects of Hasidism are enjoying
a renaissance.
f. Studies of peak experience by Dr. Andrew Greely
have shown that as much as 30% of the U.S. population has had
transcendent experiences.
*
NOTE: We find substantial support for these positions in the
Gifford lectures of Werner Heisenberg, the Erangs Conference
(1946) paper of physicist Friedrich Dessauer, in an article
by the mathematician, Kurt Godel, entitled "Russel's
Mathematical Logic", and finally in the 1929 Swarthmore lectures
of Arthur Stanley Eddington.
**
See the works of Pierre Teilhand de Chardin and Dr. Morton
Kelsey of Notre Dame for a more complete treatment.
S022
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/01 : NSA-RDP96X00790R000100030043-8
--

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/01 : NSA-RDP96X00790R000100030043-8
.
DRAFT
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD.
SUBJECT: ; Parapsychology Increasing Academic Legitimacy + Evidence
wwf of the Increased! Legitimacy and Acceptability of the PSI
Field in. Academia.' mi :: e: \:
de :
r .. it the principles in im.
1. . In the November Issue of OMNI Magazine, is an interview
with Cambridge University's first Ph.D. in parapsychology, Dr. Carl
Sargent. Of : considerable interest is the fact that the interview
was conducted by: Dr . . Christopher ; Evans, a well-known, British .....:
skeptic. .. Some : aspects. of the interview are significant, i Beginning
with an. editorial.comment. on page. 82,. "In a field as controversial
as. parapsychology, test methods must be tight enough to eliminate
any chance of fraud or of misinterpretating results. Few are -
which is why it is. so significant, that Sargent's repeated, experiments
passed the strict Cambridge examiners." In the experiments, two
series gave 45% correct answers. A fourth yielded 44%, and all
subjects scored. better: than chance.r The. principal method used,
which yielded such results. was the Ganzfeld. method, which uses
white noise to cause sensory deprevation and focus the mind on
internal processes ..... The repeatability. rate Sargent reports (on
page 82) is: higher. with. Ganzfeld "then anything in parapsychology -
almost 60 percent." On repeatability Sargent states (page 106),
-
after observing. that: repeatability, is important ; . is that ichigh
repeatability. is: only typical. of;certain areas. of the physical
sciences. : It's not characteristic of anything. but the tiniest
areas of human sciencesist The only areas of psychology that haveclassical
high replicability. are: certain areas of psychophysics, and elonical4
conditioning. In both, you are dealing with Ludicrousky oversim-
plified environments. i. Your say: parapsychology has been_in_action
for fifty. years and hasn't achieved much. That may be. true.
But experimental psychology has been going for about a hundred
years, and what has it. achieved ?.. Sorry to keep, sniping: at, ,
psychology, but my arguement( is that the only: realistic, data base
against which- to: examine. the achievements of parapsychology is
psychology. Remember the sheer complexity of one's subject matter
in both cases: : : . when: physics starts: playing around; with, complex
systems: it soon: gets. intor trouble;enberg, the Erangs .unter-nce
: 1946) stwor at physicist Friedrich Dossaber, in an att:c!
2 he Noted. in: the : S.1; Press .. clipping. of. 8 January:1980, is
that: the Nobel Prize winner Brian: Josephson; c of the, Josephson-effect
computert fame; i isi learning, physics to study parapsychology. This
is the same Josephson. who endorsed the Icelandic (parapsychology)
papers.{{ Heyis, of, course; not really leaving, physics but enteringie
the new field. of consciousness/physics which includes portions of
parapsychology. Dr. Jack Sarfatti of the Physics/Consciousness
Research Group in California met Josephson, a Cambridge student,
at the Association for Psychical Research Symposium headed by
Mr. Bernard Carx of the Institut for Theoretical Astronomy at
Cambridge. It is intriguing that other Novel laureates such as
Richard P. Feynmon, R. D. Lee, and Munnay Gell-Mann are Interested
in this new field. It may and probably will eventually contain
the main thrust for future physics .* It has great promises and\/
some awful possibilities. The occult power-hungry orientation
of some of the groups reminds us too much of the Nazi horror.
We ought not make the same mistake that we did with the Nazi's.
DRAFT
-
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/01 : NSA-RDP96X00790R000100030043-8 -

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/01 : NSA-RDP96X00790R000100030043-8
DRAFT
It has great promises and some awful possibilities. The occult que
power-hungry orientation of some of the groups reminds us too
much of the Nazi horro we ought not make the same mistake
watch the Nazy 9. Just because someone is making
insane use of principles and mixes truth with nonsense, does
not mean that the principles are incorrect or without power to
affect history.
3. It should be noted from a sociological point of view
that in Western Society during the 60's and 70's, the acceptance
level concerning PSI among large segments of the population rose
significantly. Willingness to use such power also rose dramatically.
These twin surges are evidenced by :
a. The rise in the number of popular publications about
PSI.
b. The number of new power oriented cults which arose
(Silva mind control, Covens, Satanists, Jonestown, etc. )
c. The number and impact of new motion pictures
containing PSI material.
d. The fact that all major Chirstian denominations
representing over 1 billion people have endorsed the view that
the gifts of the Holy Spirit (many of which are PSI powers ** )
are for the average Christian to use. Over 30 million persons
of various denominations have been trained in their use.
e. The Hasidic movement within Judaism indicates
the use of such powers. CERTAIN Aspects of HASIdism Are enjoying A RENAISSANCE .
f. Studies of peak experience by Dr. Andrew Greely
have shown that as such as 30% of the U. S. population has"stol
transcendent experiences.
*
NOTE: We find substantial support for these positions in the
Gifford lectures of Werner Heisenberg, the Erangs Conference
(1946) paper of physicist Friedrich Dessaver, in an article
by the mathematician, Kurt Godel, . entitled "Russel'si
Mathematical Logic", and finally in the 1929 Swarthmore lectures
of Arthur Stanley Eddington.
Pierre teilhard de chardin And
More
**
See the works of Dr. Morton Kelsey of Notre Dame for a complete
treatment.
DRAFT.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/01 : NSA-RDP96X00790R000100030043-8