William Sypher

A Skeptic looks at Paranormal Beliefs

Paranormal beliefs violate basic scientific principles, yet are enthusiastically and uncritically accepted by a large swath of the world's population. Why? William Sypher will address several reasons in a presentation at 2:00 on Tuesday, Feb. 11 in the Clubhouse II Auditorium. 

Events sometimes described as “weird” are reported in folktales, popular media, and other sources. What is behind the belief in ghosts, mind-reading, past lives, UFOs, premonitions, and predictive dreams?  As a skeptic, Sypher will offer several possible reasons such as our delight in mystery, our urge to find or invent explanations, and our exposure to uncritical media which celebrate paranormal phenomena. 

Sypher will discuss the superiority of a scientific approach to seeking the truth. He has a Ph.D. in psycholinguistics and 30 years of university teaching experience, mostly in the Middle East. 

This free presentation is sponsored by the Center for Lifelong Learning (CLL) and residents are asked to register beginning January 21, by calling or visiting the Lifestyle office in Clubhouse I or II.