Why does the scientific community and other skeptics apply our laws of physics to everything...?

Question

Including extraterrestials and the para-normal that would be outside our laws?

By virtue of the word...Paranormal means outside the normal restrictions.

Regarding any extraterrestial skeptic that wishes to respond, Even if ONE percent of all reported sightings are real, that leaves a HUGE body of evidence, and we have woodcarvings that go back to 15 century Germany that show aircraft.

Do not dismiss something out-of-hand simply because you have not experienced it. I have and I do not doubt.

I can not explain it, as I do not have all the data, BUT I know what I saw was not terrestial as we do not buiild square aircraft.

The question is simple, Give a simple explanation.

Answer 1

True, 'paranormal' implies that which is beyond explanation....of sorts. However, that which leaves behind physical evidence probably did so thru means by which the laws of physics would apply. Ghost hunters are probably/predominantly] not scientists, in the true sense of the word.

They may run around with electronic devises and write things down and collect audio and 'visual'  data, but that does not imply they really know what those instruments are, how to use them correctly, know how to interpret data and so on. I have seen people misuse numerous pieces of equipment. Subtle things like using a multimeter on the AC setting versus the DC setting.....BIG difference. I've seen people trying to measure electrical components while they are in a *hot* circuit.....WRONG.....and other similar things.

Ignorance gives rise to many accounts, data, stories, legends, and close calls. Doesn't make them bad people. Doesn't make them liars, but it lends to proliferation of useless and unnecessary topics that we don't need to spend our time or energy on.

Scientists...real scientists, that are educated and knowledgeable enjoy finding things out. When someone decides it's a great idea to plaster their paranormal tale all over for all to see, hear, and/or read about, obviously it's a great chance to utilize science skills to try and discern whether the author of the claim is a charlatan, or if there is genuine merit and another level to our mysterious universe. Most of the time the author is a Jerry Springer wannabe and is found to be a fake.

I DO believe in spirits and those born from good and evil, but my views are based thru what Jesus teaches, not the bulls!t in a mocked-up bible or some twisted fake thereof. That's a whole other area.

So it's natural to explore things we see and experience and also explore what others say and make claims about.

The good scientists will investigate and report what is found, and draw conclusions based on the data and not personal belief. There are good and bad scientists like anything else. I tend to think there are more charlatans in the paranormal than not, hence, there are more folks debunking. Those that are not genuine {paranormal] are so bad they tarnish anything that is genuine.

I've had only a couple experiences....only one of which I chose to mention on here. Never felt the need to share these with the world. I don't have the need to be in the public eye, or seek notoriety. Too many people do that already in my opinion.

So....relax.....no need to get terribly put off. People believe and disbelieve all kinds of things today. In many ways, people never change. Life's too short to take everything to heart.

Answer 2

Many "paranormal" claims require that the usual science laws of physics, chemistry, and even biology be ignored, yet they have no coherent explanation for the "auras", "vibrations" and the rest.

Extraordinary claims need far more evidence ... if I say I saw a coyote in my front yard last night, that's plausible for this area. If I say I saw a chupacabra, Bigfoot, or a UFO, I would expect that people would want more than just my saying so.

Answer 3

Because science, which basically a word that means a systematic and self-correcting investigation of that which can be known about nature, is the only known method of gathering knowledge that can be tested and confirmed by anyone with the right tools. This is knowledge that everyone can confirm, test, and understand in a common way and come to the same conclusions. So naturally it is the method of choice for investigating any unknown that is testable, observable, reproducible. In contrast, revelatory knowledge is personal, subjective, irreproducible and untestable. Personal anecdotes also tend to be this way.

You seem to be making the point that the paranormal is outside the realm of scientific investigation, and if so I agree with you. And to the extent that it is, science can't say yay or nay about it. However, what is paranormal may possibily become normal without the "-para" with some investigation, and the only way to do this is through scientific investigation. So science does come back into it if you want to make paranormal more mainstream, e.g., a science. Also, science is a good way to understand possible natural explanations for things observed, and in that way it can help you understand what is a likely explanation and what isn't.

I hope that's not too lengthy, I don't think I could have expressed it in any shorter length. I'd address your woodcarvings comment but this is too long already.

Answer 4

You are incorrect when you state that paranormal means outside of normal restrictions.  It means outside of normal experiences.  The laws of physics are constant.  Hopefully this was simple enough for you.

Answer 5

The laws of physics that have been understood to date are a very small portion of the laws of physics which exist.  It is sort of irresponsible for the scientific collective to dismiss "paranormal" activity and occurence as unsupportable...especially since they can only approach these investigations with information they have learned so far.  It's kind of like a child making a faulty conclusion based on the limited knowledge of a young mind.  The child is absolutely convinced of the logic...and will defend it until new information is presented.

I don't believe there's anything in the universe, whether "normal" or "strange" that isn't governed by the laws of physics.  It's just that our scientists have not learned them all yet.