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Home , Jeane Dixon, Marcello Truzzi

FROM THE CHAIRMAN

CSICOP at Twenty

Founded twenty yean ago amid controversy azines are presenting the case for psy- In the statement we speculated about chic healing, , immortal- and uncertainty, CSICOP is now a well- the future course of the Committee by ity, , Kirlian photography, established part of the contemporary intellec- orgone energy, surgery, faith saying that we did not know how large the tual and scientific landscape. The construc- healing, , the Chariots of the Committee would become or how ambi- tive it promotes is all the more Gods, UFOs, Dianctics, astral projec- tious its efforts would be. And we invited tion, , poltergeists, and (he crucial now with the emergence of global leading scientists and experts in many "talents" of . Edgar Cayce, mass media and a seemingly reduced appre- and Jeane Dixon. Often, the least shred fields to join us in this important venture. ciation of the scientific attitude. of evidence for these claims is blown The call was signed by many distin- out of proportion and presented as "sci- guished scientists, scholars, and skeptics, entific" proof. A Brief History including George Abell, Isaac Asimov, Antony Flew, , Sidney he Committee for the Scientific The statement went on to say that Hook, Philip Klass, Ernest Nagel, W. V. Investigation of Claims of the Quine, B. F. Skinner, , Many individuals now believe that there TParanormal (CSICOP) was estab- is considerable need to organize some Marcello Truzzi, and others. The organiz- lished at a specially convened interna- strategy of refutation. Perhaps we ought ing meeting was held under the auspices of tional conference on "The New not to assume thai the scientific enlight- The Humanist magazine, which I then •nationalisms: Antiscience and Pseudo- enment will continue indefinitely; for all edited. I had invited as many skeptical we know, like the Hellenic civilization, it science," April 30 and May 1, 1976, on may be overwhelmed by irrationalism, researchers as I could locate to the confer- the newly opened Amherst campus of the subjectivism, and obscurantism. Perhaps ence^—in all, some 300 people attended. State University of New York at Buffalo antiscientific and pseudoscientific irra- News of the Committees formation where I was a philosophy professor at the tionalism is only a passing fashion; yet became immediately known worldwide one of the best ways to deal with it is for time. One of the reasons that prompted die scientific and educational commu- and was featured in newspapers as diverse me to form such a committee was the fact nity to respond—in a responsible man- as the New York Times, the Washington that I helped initiate in late 1975 a state- ner—to its alarming growth. Post, and Pravda, and science magazines ment, "Objections to Astrology," which With these thoughts in mind we are such as Science, die New Scientist, and was endorsed by 186 leading scientists forming an organization tentatively Science News. Indeed, a story in Science from the National Academy of Sciences, called the Committee to Scientifically News, written by its then editor, Kendrick Investigate and Other including eighteen Nobel Prize-winners. Phenomena. Frazier, who attended the conference This statement aroused such an affirma- elicited more mail than any othet feature tive response that I decided that we The name of the Committee was then published in that magazine. needed to go beyond astrology and deal changed shortly thereafter to its present The Committee apparently crystallized with the wide range of other paranormal form. a widely felt need that there should be claims. T h e initial call—which I drafted— The statement continued some responsible scientific and scholarly announcing the formation of a committee body that would ferret out and examine read as follows: We wish to make it clear that the pur- rhe popular claims that were proliferating pose of the Committee is not to reject in the broader culture. This would have to There has been an enormous increase in on a priori grounds, antecedent to public interest in psychic phenomena, inquiry, any and all such claims, but be an interdisciplinary body that would the , and . Radio, rather to examine them openly, com- draw upon specialists in many fields, who television, newspapers, books, and mag- pletely, objectively, and carefully. would cooperatively investigate claims of

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER July/August 1996 5 the paranormal. that it would be difficult to enumerate CSICOP, die , and Later in 1976, CSICOP established a them all here. the entire skeptical network have emerged new journal, originally called The Zetetic, Many leading scientists have flocked to as the "official opposition" to paranormal edited by Marcello Truzzi (who also served the banners of CSICOP and the claims. Leading print and broadcast jour- as cochairman of the Committee). In the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER and have supported nalists and media producers constandy first year, a disagreement about editorial our aims. Among our distinguished come to us for die scientific viewpoint, and policy ensued between Truzzi and other Fellows and Scientific Consultants arc we have provided a reliable source of infor- members of the Executive Council of CSI- , Stephen Jay Gould, Francis mation to scholars and researchers, profes- COP. Truzzi wanted a scholarly sociologi- Crick, Glenn Seaborg, Murray Gell- sionals and lay people. We book guests on cal magazine, and he wished that propara- Mann, Elizabeth Loftus, and Milton hundreds of television and radio programs normalists be equally represented in its Rosenberg. worldwide annually and we participate in pages. The Executive Council said that There have been massive efforts to dis- hundreds of news interviews. We are a con- there was no avowedly skeptical magazine credit die Committee, and even to destroy stant resource for tliose who need up-to- in existence and it wished to deal not only it: such as me intemperate attacks on the date information. Wc need to be fair- with scholarly questions but those of pop- study of Michel Gauquelin's Mars effect and minded and ever-ready to examine any ular interest as well. After a vote of no- Klass's spoofing of space alien proponents; responsible claim to any truth, however confidence, Marcello Truzzi resigned. T h e bizarre. Yet we also need to evaluate die journal was renamed the SKEPTICAL Hyman's tangle with parapsychologists; and, claims as we see them. They are more often INQUIRER, and was in recent years, efforts by Uri Geller, Eldon unanimously elected its new editor, a posi- Byrd, and odiers to embroil CSICOP and dian not unproved, uncorroborated, and tion he has held with distinction ever Randi in protracted and costly legal suits. based on insufficient evidence. since. (Frazier has outlined the history of All of these have failed. Today, I am happy Our unkindly critics call us "the gate- CSICOP and the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER in to report, CSICOP is alive and well and keepers of science," and if we reject a claim an article in the Encyclopedia of the stronger than ever, and it is now a well- they accuse us of being "close-minded." Paranormal, 1996, Prometheus Books, established pan of the contemporary intel- Alas, die role of the skeptic is overshad- Amherst N.Y.). lectual and scientific landscape. owed in the media by comparison with the From its inception, CSICOP has been pro-paranormal viewpoint, but at least we The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER'S circulation an international organization: its Fellows, have a presence. More important is d i e fact grew in 20 years from 1,000 to more than Scientific and Technical Consultants, and that die preponderance of scientific opin- 50,000—with little capital and no adver- Executive Council members come from ion generally supports our positions. tising revenue, supported enthusiastically dozens of countries worldwide. CSICOP Since our inception, we have broad- by its readers. has helped to organize cognate commit- ened our subject matter beyond the para- Heading CSICOP as chairman these tees in many parts of die world—the normal to other borderline areas of sci- twenty years has been exhilarating for me. United Kingdom, France, Canada, ence: repressed memory, facilitated com- CSICOP has been embroiled in contro- Mexico, and Australia at first, and later, in munication, alternative health cures, m u l - versy from the start, attacked on all sides an additional twenty or more countries. ticuJturalism, postmodernism, and odier by the disciples of the paranormal—from From its start CSICOP has been a grass- interdisciplinary issues that in our view parapsychologists and astrologers to roots movement, especially with the for- undermine the integrity of science. UFOIogists and alternative health-care mation of forty local and regional groups Our overall goal is to encourage a therapists. Members of the Executive worldwide. Although these groups are responsible approach to the objective Council of CSICOP have played a bril- autonomous and independent, we share examination of paranormal and other liant role on the national and international common goals and methods, and we have unusal claims, and to develop a public scene: Phil Klass in keeping alive a skepti- formed a unique international network. appreciation tor science, die methods of cal attitude about UFO visitations; Ray CSICOP has also helped to initiate and scientific inquiry, and the need for critical Hyman. James Alcock, and Susan convene meetings in Europe, Canada, thinking. Blackmore in carefully examining, in Latin America, and elsewhere. The twen- CSICOP has expanded its programs cooperation with parapsychologists, tieth anniversary will mark the first World enormously. In addition to publishing the claims of psychic phenomena; Martin SKEPTICAL INQUIRER (now bimonthly) Gardner and James Randi in fearlessly Skeptics Congress (to be held June 20-23, debunking die various forms of nonsense 1996). Assuming our international char- and convening major conferences, we now offered as gospel truth on die popular acter was inevitable: first because science is sponsor a wide range of other activities. scene. There are so many other CSICOP international; and second because belief in We publish (quarterly) the Skeptical Briefr, associates who have worked for the cause the paranormal has become a worldwide and we have established the Center for phenomenon. Inquiry (shared widi die Council for

6 July/August 1996 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Secular Humanism). We assist in the pro- tations, weeping icons, miraculous cures, widi paranormal topics, the skeptical view- duction of radio and television programs prophetic visions, and other paranormal point is rarely heard; and when it is permit- and thus have become a multimedia cen- phenomena are exhibited and marketed ted to be expressed, it is usually sandbagged ter. We have created a major research along with cereal, chewing gum, cold by die host or other guests. library of skeptical literature (the John and remedies, and laxatives. The public is After two decades of toiling in the para- Mary Frantz Skeptics' Library), and we often confronted with sensational normal marshes, I am persuaded that what provide a full range of seminars, work- accounts of hidden realms, and pseudo- we are dealing with in the public is a quasi- shops, and course curricula. We arc also science is mistaken for genuine science. religious phenomenon. Belief in the para- taking the lead in training new skeptical Even reputable publishers prefer to pub- normal is the poetic equivalent of religion. inquirers. The Center for Inquiry encour- lish books touting paranormal claims We live in a culture where any criticisms of ages research; it serves as a think-tank, rather than dispassionate scientific cri- the uncorroborated claims of religions are attempting to probe the reasons why peo- tiques. Why is it that of the thousands of generally considered to be ill-advised or in ple believe what they believe and to offer pro-astrology, pro-psychic, or pro-UFO bad taste. The New Age spirituality that alternative explanations for alleged phe- books published, very few (other than has developed is drenched in occult and nomena. Significandy, we have created a those published by Prometheus Books) are paranormal symbols—from near-death . We have helped to skeptical? "They don't sell," is die response spawn more than 50 skeptical newsletters experiences to extraterrestrial abductions, and magazines, now published by skepti- of the hallelujah choir withi n the publish- from past-life regressions to miraculous cal organizations worldwide—though ing industry—a sad commentary on our healings. This is consistent with the vague cleady the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER continues times. religiosity now regnant in modern culture, to serve as the main reference source for The skeptics thus have a viral role to and especially American society. The pop- the entire skeptical movement. play: to educate tiie public about die nature ularity of the paranormal worldview, I sub- of science and to attempt to persuade media mit, is a manifestation of what I call the producers and directors th.it they have some transcendental temptation, die tendency of Retrospective Reflections responsibility to develop an appreciadon for human beings to wish to penetrate the hid- scientific rationality. One of the roles of den depths of an alleged transcendental When we first established CSICOP we CSICOP is to challenge die views of pseu- reality that cannot be known by using the did not realize we would elicit such an dosciencc pouring lortii daily from die methods of scientific inquiry. In my view intense response from die scientific com- media. It is clear that we cannot operate this is a reversion to primitive forms of munity or the public within die cloistered confines of die acad- . That is why it is often so In no small measure, the epidemic of emy, but need to enter into die public arena. difficult to cope with paranormal beliefs, paranormal beliefs is due to the rapid In monitoring the media, we surely have for we are dealing with faith and convic- emergence of the mass media on a global not sought to censor producers or publish- tion, not testable theories or hypotheses. scale. T h e s e media have virtually replaced ers; we only wish for some balance on their This perhaps explains why there is often so die schools, colleges, and universities as part in presenting paranormal claims, and much animosity toward science in large the chief conveyors of information. The for some role for skepticism about these sectors of the population, and why antisci- days of the lone scientist conducting claims. Largely because of die media, large entific irrationalism at times overwhelms research in the lab or of die isolated sectors of public opinion simply assume the dispassionate standards of scientific scholar writing a paper or book for a lim- diat psychic powers are real (, inquiry. Too many people find the scien- ited audience have been bypassed. Today , ), that it is possible to tific attitude too demanding and rigorous; new ideas arc popularized—whether half- modify material objects merely by the mind they want something easier to ingest. or fully baked—and dicy are broadcast far (psychokinesis), that can help Modern science and technology have and wide even if they have not been suffi- detectives solve mysteries, that we can aban- transformed the globe and have vasdy ciently tested. Apparently the chief inter- don the clinical tests of medical science and improved the standards of living and health ests of most media conglomerates are heal patients by miraculous means, and ili.it of large sectors of the population in those entertainment rather dian information, die Earth is visited daily by extraterrestrials societies where it has been applied. Those profit rather than truth, selling products who are engaging in sexual biogenetic of us committed to the scientific outlook rather that contributing to die sum of experiments with humans The number of do not wish to abandon its programmatic human knowledge. Accordingly, paranor- paranormal, occult, and sci-fi television pro- goals; we wish to continue to use the medi- mal ideas are pandered to a gullible public grams is increasing. Our objection is that ods of science and technology to under- and the line between fiction and reality is "docudramas" are not labeled as fictional- stand nature and solve human problems. blurred. Psychic wonders, angelic visita- ized accounts but touted as fact. In regard to We are willing to suspend judgment about tions. Virgin Mary sightings, satanic infes- the many talk shows diat constantly deal the claims of new forms of reality until they

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER luly/August 1996 7 FROM THE CHAIRMAN

have been tested; they should at least be fal- behavioral sciences—all too often is exces- of the philosophy of science, and in this age si h.lb11- and they need to run the gauntlet of sively naturalistic or materialistic, and that of intense specialization, many may not peer review and replication. In this post- it leaves little or no room for spiritual, choose to take that step. modernist age of nihilistic subjectivity, occult, or paranormal realms. I personally many intellectuals consider this view to be accept the naturalistic interpretation of the Future Prospects "outdated," and we are criticized for universe. However, in being committed to defending the ideals of the Enlightenment. the scientific outlook, I do not deny the I have briefly reviewed how far we have They reject die view that die methods of vital importance of human creativity in come in these past twenty years. The ques- science and critical thinking are the most life, or the significance of passions, feel- tion is, Where do we go from here? I effective procedures for testing truth claims ings, and other dimensions of human would suggest that our work has only just and resolving human problems. We main- experience, but I would insist that in begun, and that there is a continuing need tain that where the methods of science have searching for testable hypotheses these in contemporary culture for the skeptical been used, they have been eminendy suc- dimensions are not relevant. Some may movement. Would that we could'go out of cessful, and we wish to extend these meth- choose to reject this interpretation. I business! Alas, there arc always new claims, ods to other areas. The methods of sci- respond that if we are to abandon the many often more bizarre or outrageous ence—measured on a comparative scale methods of objective inquiry we need to than previous ones (like the "alien with intuition, faith, emotion, and meta- have good reason and evidence to do so. autopsy" or "milk-drinking statues"), that physics—though not perfect, seem to us the The defining characteristic of the new emerge and cry out for examination. best way to gain reliable knowledge. skepticism is that we use objective methods Our task in the future will be to con- The new skepticism that we defend is to establish truth claims as nearly as we can tinue to luiii. 11!HI as Socratic gadflies. This is positive and constructive, not negative. It and whenever they are applicable. This vital, and it means that scientific skepticism is a powerful tool, an indelible part of the does not mean that we are opposed to the should be applied to borderland questions. process of scientific inquiry. We insist that sense of wonder. The great scientific dis- It means that we need to keep alive our we need to keep an open mind about all coveries of the past four centuries have probing critical methods—no matter how claims to truth, including our own. It is expanded the boundaries of our under- much they may infuriate those whom we important to point out that unlike many standing. As spacecraft probe our solar sys- criticize. But we need to continue to forms of classical skepticism, we do not tem and the galaxies beyond on the macro develop in the public an understanding and deny the possibility of knowledge. We level, or penetrate the micro level of inani- appreciation for scientific inquiry and the believe that there is a body of reliable mate and organic matter, we discover hith- scientific outlook. Our role in this sense is knowledge that has developed. When we erto unknown dimensions. Our chief primarily educative. CSICOP and the say we are skeptical, we simply demand caveat is that intuitive or speculative theo- newly developed Center for Inquiry have that objective criteria for evaluating truth ries need to be corroborated by valid infer- taken upon themselves this important task. claims be respected in a community of ence and experimental confirmation. In the future, we must seek new ways inquirers, and rigorous standards be Not all of those who enthusiastically to bring this critical point of view to the applied not only for evaluating claims on consult the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER or the general public. We sometimes feel like the the borderlands of science, but within the Skeptical Briefs, or who draw upon CSI- lone voice in the wilderness. There are entire range of scientific investigations. COP for the expertise of those associated exciting new directions that we plan to The frontiers of science are forever with it, will accept this broader naturalistic take. We believe we have a valuable contri- expanding, and this means that we constantly interpretation of the sciences. We are not bution to make, but we will in the future have to be prepared to revise our theories. But asking them to do so; yet they may find our need to further convince opinion-mak- the fact rhat our theories and hypotheses unraveling of crop circles, spoon-bendings, ers—political and industrial leaders, the change should not be a cause of despair or spontaneous human combustion, or pol- directors of corporations, and the masters uncertainty. The fact that we cannot make tergeists helpful. Our work draws upon the of the media—that our battle is theirs and absolute or final judgments does not mean interdisciplinary efforts of many that a free and democratic society can sur- that we cannot make any judgments: we researchers; and rather than depending on vive and prosper only if it keeps alive the insist we still have a body of tested beliefs, and the so-called experts in fields such as astrol- appreciation for skepticism and critical rhese tell us something about the nature of ogy or , as the case may be, many thinking. To fulfill this mission in the the expanding evolutionary universe and die find the work of the skeptical movement decades ahead we will need the support of place of die human species within it. highly instructive in specific areas of inter- our readers. We are grateful for your loyal Critics maintain that the above est. In maintaining that the broader inter- help over the past twenty years. We look account of the universe—based on our pretation of our world is naturalistic, I have forward to the challenges of the future, reading of the natural, biological, and no doubt entered the controversial domain and will continue to serve you.

8 July/August 1996 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER