Well, if they really do have these abilities, then the rest of us will never be privy to it. In any event, my point is that, in venues such as this one, claims of this sort either can be [will be] backed up with evidence or they can’t be [won’t be].
After all, what else is there?
Anyone can make claims of either possessing psychic abilities, or of knowing those who do.
And, if believing this is important to them, then believing it is really all that matters.
But why should I or others believe them?
How are they able to persuade skeptics to come over to their side?
Sure, if that is not important to them, then so be it. In a philosophy venue however claims are expected to be backed up more, well, substantively.
What they can do, what they offer is on their terms…not yours or the scientific communities. I don’t think that most people can handle unknowns being revealed, becoming known, beyond the safe environment they have surrounded themselves in their existential contraptions and such.
Clearly then, in that sense, there are no doubt all manner of incredible claims being made around the globe. And, sure, to the extent that sustaining the claims is emotionally and psychologically important to those who make them, I don’t imagine that my own skepticism here will matter much.
But there’s still the part about demonstrating them to a point where an increasingly larger number of folks around the globe become aware of them. And then one day an episode pops up on 60 Minutes and the world is astonished to learn that someone really has been shown to possess these abililites.
Then we can begin to ponder the extent to which psychic powers may or may not be interwined in, say, the existence of the soul. Or of God. Or in an understanding of the existence of Existence itself.
Not unlike most things, Randi’s million dollar challenge was as legit or illegit as one needed it to be. Or wanted it to be.
What?
My point here is that a belief [or disbelief] in psychic powers, becomes entangled in the contraption I explore on this thread: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=185296
That, in other words, the belief becomes more a psychological contraption — a comforting and consoling foundation upon which to embed/anchor “I”.
And that this frame of mind may well be applicable to both the true believers and the skeptics.
Still, it would seem compelling to argue that it is incumbent more upon those who make the claim to demonstrate the fact of it.