Robert H. Thouless
Encyclopedia
British academic Robert H. Thouless (1894–1984) is best known as the author of Straight and Crooked Thinking
(1930, 1953), which describes flaws in reasoning and argument.
He was a lecturer in psychology
at the universities of Manchester
, Glasgow
, and Reader in Educational Psychology and Fellow of Corpus Christi College
in the University of Cambridge
.
He wrote on psychic phenomena, not as an advocate but describing a scientific approach to studying something which is not known with certainty to exist. His own experiments did not confirm the results of J.B. Rhine and he criticised the experimental protocols of previous experimenters.
He is credited with introducing the word "psi
" as a neutral term for parapsychological
phenomena in a 1942 article in the British Journal of Psychology.
He served as President of the Society for Psychical Research
from 1942 to 1944.
Straight and Crooked Thinking
Straight and Crooked Thinking, first published in 1930 and revised in 1953, is a book by Robert H. Thouless which describes, assesses and critically analyses flaws in reasoning and argument. Thouless describes it as a practical manual, rather than a theoretical one.-Synopsis:*No. 3. proof by...
(1930, 1953), which describes flaws in reasoning and argument.
He was a lecturer in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at the universities of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, and Reader in Educational Psychology and Fellow of Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
in the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
He wrote on psychic phenomena, not as an advocate but describing a scientific approach to studying something which is not known with certainty to exist. His own experiments did not confirm the results of J.B. Rhine and he criticised the experimental protocols of previous experimenters.
He is credited with introducing the word "psi
Psi (parapsychology)
Psi is a term from parapsychology derived from the Greek, ψ psi, 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet; from the Greek ψυχή psyche, "mind, soul".-Etymology:...
" as a neutral term for parapsychological
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
phenomena in a 1942 article in the British Journal of Psychology.
He served as President of the Society for Psychical Research
Society for Psychical Research
The Society for Psychical Research is a non-profit organisation in the United Kingdom. Its stated purpose is to understand "events and abilities commonly described as psychic or paranormal by promoting and supporting important research in this area" and to "examine allegedly paranormal phenomena...
from 1942 to 1944.
External links
- An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural – describes Thouless' test for survival after death.
- David J. Thouless, Robert's son - Wolfe prize winning physicist.