Reincarnation Flashcards
Where is Dr Ian Stevenson from?
Canada
What is the definition of reincarnation?
The belief that the soul, upon death of the body, comes back to earth in another body or form
How long did Stevenson travel for?
40 years
Which uni did Stevenson investigate the paranormal?
University of Virginia
How many child cases did Stevenson investigate?
3000
What did Stevenson consider the concept of reincarnation might supplement?
Those of heredity and environment in helping modern medicine to understand aspects of human behaviour
What did Stevenson see reincarnation as?
The survival of death of the personality after death
What did Stevenson never suggest about the physical process of reincarnation
Physical process by which a personality might survive death
What famous book did Stevenson write
20 cases suggestive of reincarnation
What two books did almeder write
Beyond death
Death and personal survival
What does almeder say about stevensons research
Not only valuable but so compelling that it would be “irrational” not to except that it is the best fit explanation.
What does almeder think about reincarnation in terms of how many people?
Only some people reincarnate
Stevenson says that reincarnation is the ‘best fit’
What does almeder say?
Irrational to disbelieve such a commanding argument that is also difficult to refute
What is the implication that only some people reincarnate
2 reasons
Human personality is not reducible to statements about biochemical States
Also means that psychology will not be able to e plain these kinds of cases or other mysteries regarding human nature
What are the possible criticisms of the case studies in 20 cases…
No process
Fraud
How can the case studies be seen as fraud
Support reincarnation
- almeders analogy of 100 people falling off the empire sate building and people 5 people walking away unharmed.
- he argues that 5% is small but still needs to be explained
- does it actually respond to the criticism
How is there no process in reincarnation?
Support reincarnation.
We may not know the process but we know the events still occur
(Just because we don’t understand the mechanism) doesn’t mean it doesn’t work)
What are John hicks two main concerns about stevensons work?
Most of those claiming spontaneous memories of former lives are children
Most cases occur in countries where it is their doctrine to believe in reincarnation
How can you respond to hicks criticism that most of the cases are children who experience memories of their former lives
They are closer to the death of their previous incarnation.
How can you respond to hicks comment about the doctrine being a concern
Could mean that people are more likely to report such cases as it is taken seriously as a doctrine
What is hicks alternative explanation of reincarnation.
After bodily death a husk of the deceased is left behind and its telepathically accessible under conditions to living persons.
This husk may consist of memory or emotion
-what is the role of culture according to hick?
Mediums use trances to construct a personal environment that allows that allows them to pick up these husks
What does hick argue culture is?
A husk where reincarnation is its husk
