Perspectivas Experimentais em Parapsicologia: Caminhos a Serem Explorados em Conscienciologia

This paper was prepared based on administrative meetings of the volunteers from Conscientia Magazine, when we recognized the need for a modernization of its structure so that it could improve and be propagated to a wider audience. An interest in updating those engaged in Conscientiological research led to a critical analysis of what has been published in recent decades about “parapsychism” by other areas of knowledge. This review was structured around the collection of 35 publications consulted between 2009 and 2010, of which 22 were journal articles, 11 books and two works exclusively broadcast on the Internet. The approaches contained in those publications guided the thematic classification of the article as follows: (a) paranormal concepts, (b) skepticism, (c) experiments in neurophysiology, (d) the current situation, and (e) new ways to explore. The review of the consulted publications on these subject matters led to the identification of controversial issues, or not yet explored, and allowed to suggest possible ways to be addressed by conscientiological researchers. Among the 35 studies reviewed, 13 (37%) were favorable to extraphysicality, six of which were papers published in scientific journals (17%), and seven books (20%). We could conclude that it is necessary to publish good science (clarifying, cosmoethical and non-dogmatic), structured in leading-edge approaches aimed at upgrading and better understanding what we intend to study. In conclusion, it was suggested to coordinately quantify and record the trials, which are essential to meet the urgent need for an increase in the number of pro-consciential publications among scientific dissemination vehicles.