Psychokinesis: Real or Con?

Question

When you think about Nina Kulagina or Uri Geller, and their power of telekinesis (moving objects with the mind), how skeptic are you?

Answer 1

Real.

Uri Geller is a trained stage magician and so naturally people should be skeptical of any abilities he demonstrates. However, some scientists have concluded that he will cheat given a chance but that they have observed him under conditions they believe eliminate fraud as a possibility. He remains highly controversial and his case should be used as a study in how to create experiments that limit the possibility of fraud.

Nina Kulgina is another story. She was studied and carefully observed by Soviet Union scientist. Despite skeptics rather loud yelling about magic trick and frauds they have been unable to reproduce her demonstrations of her abilities with magic tricks under the same conditions of a controlled laboratory setting and careful observations by scientist.

Answer 2

Uri Geller has been exposed as a fraud, which came as no surprise to anyone, so there's really nothing more to say about him. He's a two-trick magician, and still doing the same tricks. You'd think he would have learned something new by now.

Nina Kulagina was a sleight-of-hand magician who learned a couple well-known magician techniques for moving small objects or moving a compass needle. Even some modern day paranormal enthusiasts are bamboozled by this simple stage magic and for some reason are convinced by these demonstrations. Some say that Kulagina must have been for real since she was "strip searched" by the KGB before doing her tricks, but the strip search claim is likely apocryphal, and even if true, the tiny thread used for moving the objects can easily be hidden. She was just your run-of-the-mill magician who was able to fool a few people.

It has been said (by magicians who have experience) that scientists sometimes are more easily fooled by magic tricks than the general populace. There is no doubt that some have been fooled. For example, see Project Alpha (link below). Another example to look up is JB Rhine, of the Rhine Institute, who was completely fooled by a trained horse and pronounced the horse to be psychic! Anyhow, Kulagina's simple stage magic has easily been reproduced by modern magicians. Sleight-of-hand magic is usually done with an audience close up to the magician. Kulagina's tricks performed under the same conditions are nothing out of the ordinary to any working magician.

Answer 3

I note that another answerer has referred to the studies at Princeton that went by the title of PEARS (Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research Study). If I might correct what they stated though, the studies went on for roughly 25 years and were not specifically associated with psychokinesis. Rather it was studies attempting to influence supposedly random computer output without any physical input. Further, these studies consistently found anomalies in the result that exceeded what would be expected by random chance, thus indicating that something was occurring. Unfortunately, exactly what was occurring was not provable. There are likewise multiple anecdotal accounts of spirits moving things, but again the actual process is unknown. Assuming that this ability is truly possible though, I suspect that it is much like most other abilities. Most people can do it to a limited extent with training and practice, I can dribble, shoot and rebound basketballs, but I am no pro player, not even starting high school player quality, but few can do it to any great extent.

Answer 4

Uri Geller is an outright fraud. There is ample evidence of this. YouTube is a great resource for videos supporting this. That's why he tried to sue them to have them removed.

I've seen the Kulagina clips. It's grainy film stock showing objects moving around inside glass boxes. There is nothing I've seen that makes me think it isn't trickery as well. You must also take into account the USSR was often deceitful in what went on behind the Iron Curtain. They had a vested interest in convincing us she was legit.

Answer 5

When I think of Uri Gellar, I think of how James Randi exposed him as the fraud he is on national TV. See it on YouTube.

Answer 6

Here's a link to 77 people who've asked this question.Also almost 600 asked about telekinesis(the same thing)look them up by searching questions.Someone already asked today as a matter of fact.Why not contact a few of them and see how they made out.

Answer 7

James Randi has offered a $1,000,000 prize for anyone who can demonstrate supernatural abilities. No one has claimed the prize. Clearly, either every single paranormal person in the world is a fake, or the real ones have no desire for money or fame. I vote for "fake".

Answer 8

The problem is there are both real and fake incidences of PK. The really hard part is determining which is which. I would suggest reading about all type of PSI. A great place to start would be Edgar Cayce.

Answer 9

Extremely. Time and time again they have been proven to be false by Scientists. Trust me if it was real, the Government would be using them to fight wars.

Answer 10

Though I am unable to explain, I believe that there is some trick involved.