Psionics
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Psionics is the practice of using, enhancing, or developing a variety of purported psychic abilities. Believers in psychic phenomena have developed numerous hypotheses on its function. Beliefs on how these claimed abilities work vary greatly.
The term psionics is also a recurring element in fiction, usually works of fantasy and science fiction as well as video games and role-playing games.
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[edit] History and terminology
B. P. Wiesner and Robert H. Thouless first proposed the term "psi" in 1942 as a more general term to include both extrasensory perception and psychokinesis. The original terminology proposal divided psi into psi-gamma, for cases of perception, and psi-kappa, for cases of action. These terms were later modified into "passive psi" and "active psi".[1][2] Later, John W. Campbell proposed the term "psionics", from psi (psyche) + electronics (machine), which implied that the powers of the mind could be made to work reliably. This is based on radionics field of science. The u.k.a.c.o group was the first one who developed the idea of psionics but was turned down by the government due of lack in scientific approach. Psionics was also called "a quasi-electronics device". Psionics in terms of "the game" and "paranormal" was developed and spread on the internet by supporters of fictional psionics.[3]
[edit] Energy
The "psi" catalyst, as with many paranormal forces, is often referred to generally as an "energy" whose physical properties are generally thought to be difficult or impossible to measure in terms of standard or current physics (see Spiritual energy).[citation needed] Psionic energy can also be compared to many similar eastern concepts including the qi in Qigong or prana in Indian meditation.[citation needed]
[edit] Constructs
According to some, but not all, psionic practices, constructs are masses of dense psionic energy that have been formed into a specific shape and given a specific task to perform. This can range from a simple shield (a shield being a construct that regulates or stops the energy passing through it), on up to creating artificial "entities", or constructs with programmed sentience. A common example that some beginning psions start out with is a 'psiball', which is essentially a simple construct programmed to retain a spherical shape.[citation needed]
Those who believe in their existence assert that they can be formed in a variety of different shapes, sizes and temperatures, depending on the creator's wishes and that they may also be formed at any location, even if the location is external to the creator's vision, or even a long distance away. Some people believe these locations can include other dimensions, planes, or domains.[citation needed]
Constructs are said to be capable of performing many different tasks, such as healing, protection, telekinesis, or sending short telepathic messages.[1] The energy is said by some to come from inside the body/mind of the practitioner, and by others from a variety of external sources, such as the Sun, the Moon and the Earth. "Energy" in this instance is a catch-all term for the unknown cause of the effects professed by practitioners of psionics.[citation needed]
This subject is viewed with skepticism by most mainstream scientists and is considered pseudoscience because the nature of energy as defined by modern science does not generally support it being formed in or staying in a spherical shape without an enclosure of some kind. There have been no controlled scientific studies showing support for the existence of constructs.[citation needed]
In many internet communities that claim to practice psionics, the creation of psi balls or constructs is seen to be an essential skill and one of the first steps beginners may take in developing their psychic skills. On the contrary, many others who believe in psionics say that psiballs are a completely separate, unnecessary, or fictional aspect of psionics and should not be the first step a beginner takes.[citation needed]
A Psi-ball is what is inside the construct of a dense mass of psionic energy, and it has been claimed that some can program these psi-balls to float around, move, or to hit someone in the back, or just make it go anywhere. There are some who make a psi-ball any color and any mass of energy.[citation needed]
[edit] Passive abilities
Passive abilities generally deal with the mind and/or nervous system. This area is generally considered to include telepathy (Sensing or affecting thoughts), empathy (sensing or affecting emotions), precognition (predicting future events), remote viewing (seeing a location without the use of physical eyes), and nervous system-related effects (sensing or affecting the senses and/or nerves of others).[citation needed]
[edit] Physical abilities
Psionics that affect the physical world are sometimes broadly referred to as telekinesis or psychokinesis (shortened into TK or PK, respectively)... different sources may have variations in terminology. The claims of a select few to be able to move small objects with their minds is controversial and many experiments have been attempted to assess the validity of these claims (see Psychokinesis article for more details).
[edit] Types of psionics
[edit] Fiction
Psionics in fiction take on nearly as many forms as magic, and are often deeply entwined with many related paranormal or science fiction phenomena. It is often used to endow science fictional characters with abilities, which, if they were called "magic", would make the story fantasy.[4]
The most widely utilized psionic ability in fiction is telepathy, which is often attributed to magical or highly technologically or mentally advanced cultures as a matter of course. As an example, the Star Trek Vulcans were given limited telepathic abilities in order to make them appear more alien. Psionic abilities are often displayed by beings who do or are in process of transcending their physical existence (e.g. humans in the SF classic, Childhood's End).
Telekinesis and precognition, as exhibited by the Jedi in Star Wars for example, are also quite common in fictional psionics.
In the science fiction TV show Babylon 5, human telepaths are organized into an organization known as the Psi Corps.
See also: List of comic book superhero powers
[edit] Role-playing and other games
- Main article: Psionics (role-playing games)
Psionics are used in a wide variety of role-playing games, often as a substitute for magic. In Tolkien-esque fantasy games with a magic system already in place, psionics are often introduced to provide an alternative magic system that functions differently.
Psionics are a popular device in video games (such as Second Sight or Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy), board games (such as Cosmic Encounter) and many other forms of gaming. Typically such powers are used in a context where magic would not fit into the setting in order to introduce super-human, magic-like powers.
Psionics also plays a huge role in the game StarCraft (see Psionic technology (StarCraft)).
Psionic power was also included as one of the properties of the 1994 SNES game Earthbound (US) and Mother (JP)
A Psionicist is also class in the MMORPG, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.
Psionicist is a character class in the free online computer game Tempus (MUD)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.parapsych.org/glossary_l_r.html
- ^ http://forums.vsociety.net/topic/5408.0
- ^ http://www.davidszondy.com/future/man/psionics.htm
- ^ Poul Anderson, "Fantasy in the Age of Science", p 270, Fantasy ISBN 48-51518
[edit] External links
Please be aware that the accuracy and validity of this subject and of the following external links are controversial.
