Apparitions and thought-transference: an examination of the evidence for telepathy

"Apparitions and Thought-Transference: An Examination of the Evidence for Telepathy" by Frank Podmore is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. This work delves into the topic of telepathy, presenting a detailed examination and critique of various experimental evidence and case studies concerning thought transfer and associated phenomena. The book aims to provide the reader with a clearer understanding of telepathic communication that occurs outside the known sensory channels, while also acknowledging the complexities and challenges in achieving conclusive proof. The opening of the book introduces the context for the ongoing study of psychical research, pointing to the emergence of the Society for Psychical Research and the foundations laid by previous scientific inquiries. Podmore discusses the historical perspectives on supernatural phenomena, particularly apparitions and clairvoyance, and underscores the skepticism that comes from both the scientific community and the general public. He outlines fundamental challenges in the research, such as defining telepathy, potential errors in observation, common misconceptions, and the need for rigorous experimentation to validate the phenomena observed. Overall, the introduction sets a tone of inquiry, caution, and a commitment to applying scientific rigor in exploring the enigmatic territory of thought-transference. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Frank Podmore was an English author and founding member of the Fabian Society as well as an influential member of the Society for Psychical Research. He is known for his interest in spiritualism, which he eventually developed a sceptical attitude towards, specifically the claims of mediumship which he attacked in his history of mediumship, The New Spiritualism (1910). However, he defended other spiritualist beliefs such as telepathy and ghosts.