The Story of Psychic Science - Hereward Carrington

Aug 7, 2026

Preface to a work summarizing findings of modern psychical research, presenting the advanced phenomena and the evidence accumulated to date. The author approaches the subject conscientiously and impartially, setting out both pros and cons while withholding commitment to a specific doctrine. He is not a convinced spiritualist yet considers the facts themselves genuine and supernormal, while treating the question of an intelligent spiritual world as unresolved. The text also frames psychical research as a specialized field requiring extensive study, investigation, and time.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages440

Reading Time18 h 29 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

B1OPF6P ONIW Ct BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR. (a)On Psychical Research. THE PHYSICAL PHENOMENA OF SPIRITUALISM(I907).THE COMING SCIENCE(I908). EUSAPIA PALLADINO:AND HER PHENOMENA(r909).DEATH:ITS CAUSES AND PHENOMENA(19II).PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN SPIRITUALISM(I9I3).HINDU MAGIC(I9I3). THE PROBLEMS OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH(I9I4)TRUE GHOST STORIES (I915). PSYCHICAL PHENOMENA AND THE WAR(I918).MODERN PSYCHICAL PHENOMENA(I9I9). YOUR PSYCHIC POWERS:AND HOW TO DEVELOP THEM(1920).HIGHER PSYCHICAL DEVELOPMENT(I920).SPIRITUALISM (WITH DR.JAMES J.WALSH)(I925). THE PROJECTION OF THE ASTRAL BODY(WITH S.J.MULDOON),(1929)。THE STORY OF PSYCHIC SCIENCE(I930). Translation. SPIRITISM AND PSYCHOLOGY(BY PROF.TH.FLOURNOY),(I9II). (b)On Other Topics. VITALITY,FASTING AND NUTRITION(I908).THE NATURAL FOOD OF MAN(I9I2).DEATH DEFERRED(r9I2)HANDCUFF TRICKS (I9I3). SIDE-SHOW AND ANIMAL TRICKS(I9I3).THE BOY'S BOOK OF MAGIC(I920).MAGIC FOR EVERYONE(I927).BRIDGE SIMPLIFIED (I928). (c)Smal Books,Booklets,etc. LIPE:ITS ORIGIN AND NATURE;GREAT MEN OF SCIENCE;ASTRONOMY FORBEGINNERS;CHEMISTRY FOR BEGINNERS;PsYCHOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS;PsYCHICAL RESEARCH(2 voLs.);YoGA PHILOSOPHY;DEATH AND ITS PROBLEMS;THE GREAT PYRAMID OR EGYPT;NoVEL DisCOVERIES IN ScTENCE;THENATURE OF DREAMS;GAMBLERS'TRICKs;FoOD AND DIET;FASTING FORHEALTH;VENTRILOQUISM;EUSAPIA PALLADINo's AMERICAN SEANCES;THENEED OF A PsYCHICAL LABORATORY;ETC.,As WELL AS NUMEROUs REPORTSIN THE Proceedings AND Jowrnals OF THE S.P.R, HEREWARD CARRINGTON THE STORY OFPSYCHIC SCIENCE (PSYCHICAL RESEARCH). ByHEREWARD CARRINGTON AEMBER OF THE SOCIETY FOR PSYCHICAL RESEARCH;AMERICAN DELEGATE TO THEINTERNATIONAL PSYCHICAL CONGRESSES;MEMBER OF THE"SCIENTIFICAMERICAN”COMMITTEE;RESEARCH OFFICER OF THE AMERICANPSYCHICAL INSTITUTE AND LABORATORY,EX-MEMBER OFTHE COUNCIL OF THE A.S.P.R.s AND AUTHOROF NUMEROUS STANDARD WORKSUPON THE SUBJECT,ETC. ‘The evolution of interest in science is from simple,obvious,and tangibleroblems,to more intricate and impalpable researches.”(August Hoch, M.D.,Benign Stupors.) RIDER &CO.,Paternoster HousePaternoster Row,London,E.C.4 G元 41323 133 3185 # PREFACE HE present_volume is an attempt to summarize the findingsof modern Psychical Research—the phenomena which have beenadvanced—to date.This I have endeavoured to do conscientiously andimpartially;giving the pros and cons of the subject,and leaving thefinal decision to the reader,after he has read and digested the facts.Ihave no particular theory to defend,and no belief to uphold.I amnot a convinced spiritualist;at the same time,I am willing to grant thatthe evidence for survival is remarkably strong.As to the facts themselves,I consider these undoubted.They exist:they are genuine:they aresupernormal.But,whether or not we are forced to postulate somespiritual world,inhabited by intelligent beings like ourselves,instigatingand producing these phenomena—that I think is a question which is asyet undetermined,and is one upon which I am not yet prepared to give afinal decision.The reader will be in a position to estimate the strengthof this evidence for himself after he has read the evidence contained inthe present book. This is an age of specialization.It would be impossible for the averagebusy man to master the details of any one science without devoting hisentire life to it.This is as true of psychical research as of any other branchof science.The Proceedings and fournals of the Societies for PsychicResearch alone comprise more than one hundred closely-printed volumesof material—in addition to the hundreds of other books which have beenpublished on the subject.The careful perusal of all this material,together with the necessary personal investigations and experimentswhich are essential,would alone consume many years of work,and thetraining necessitated in fitting one's self to become a competent investigatoris also arduous and complicated. My own interest in the subject began when I was eighteen years old.

FAQs

What is the purpose of the book in the preface?

The author aims to summarize the findings of modern psychical research up to the present, presenting the evidence and arguments for the reader to judge.

Does the author support a spiritualist belief in the preface?

The author states he is not a convinced spiritualist, though he grants that the evidence for survival is remarkably strong.

How does the author describe the role of specialization in psychical research?

He argues that psychical research, like other sciences, requires long-term study and personal investigations, since mastering its details would be impossible for a busy person.

Aug 7, 2026

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