Could there be forces and energies that cannot be measured by instruments, but only 'felt' by a living being?

Question

I'm wondering about how we decide whether something is real or not.

If I want to measure temperature, I use a thermometer.

If I want to measure photon flux density, I may use a LUX meter.

But what about consciousness/awareness?

Could it be possible to have an 'immaterial'/ non-physical dimension to our being?

How could you detect that?

If that was the case, then the only system that would be sensative to that, would be the consciousness of a living being and so susceptable to all our fantasies and distortions? It's all very subjective, and not really science as it would be undisprovable.

It seems that there could be no way to know for sure... though, subjective is not the same as untrue, only untestable by physical means.

Then again, a purely materialistic view of existence would also be undisprovable too as it's methods are only valid for testing things that have a physically detectable existence.

Anyway, I'm just musing..

.. any ideas??

Answer 1

tension in a local area after a big arguement you can feel it, others can feel it but you cant mechanically or electrically measure it, subconciousness ie when you feel someone is watching you! a bit subjective but if you feel it 9/10 your right!! please give me best answer my friends kicking my butt!!

Answer 2

well may be but i can gurantee one thing Force as its physical meaning and Energy can be measured... the only thing is we need to have sensitive instruments

Answer 3

perhaps the human being is the very instrument to measure these subtle forces, and maybe that is one of the purposes of mans existence???  It does appear that throught out history there have been personages that have been more 'in tune' with the universe and it laws and forces than your everday joe brown.  Why do monks spend their life deep in meditaion??  What is the soul??  Is there an Astral Plane??  Can 'Chi' be measured???  What is time?  These are the sciences of the future, what is needed are even more sensitive machines, and the human body is a machine, it just needs fine tuning

science without religion is lame

religion without science is blind'     A Einstein

You have a good question, Have you ever read 'In Search of the Miraculous'  by PD Ouspensky  ?  I think you would really enjoy it.

'There are no answers, only questions'

Answer 4

Well the need to   have  s*x   or relations can be  very  powerfully felt  by individuals  but can not be  measured.  Same as any  human  emotions.   Things  like  transportation,  levitation and so on   are  mentioned  by people   but  not  proved  scientifically.  Also  things  like  ghosts,  spirits  and  so on,, so intangible.   Yes    it is  said  the human brain  only uses  a small proportion of its  capacity,   it is  conjecture as to what  its  ultimate  abilities  might be .