Notes- Oct 29- metaphysics tu/th
nick smith

You can review the exam in the computer lab starting Thursday at 2:30

Near Death Experiences (NDEs)
Raymond Moody, M.D. (also has Ph.D. in philosophy) wrote first book on NDEs Life After Life
He said 15-20% of patients who “died” had an NDE who shared certain experiences:
Floating over body, then travelling at a fantastic speed down a long dark tunnel with a light at the end. Sometimes accompanied by a humming or rushing wind sound. A benevolent being or beings greets the person- beings of light or a dead relative, sometimes a religious figure. Intense feelings of peace and love are experienced. The subject is told, or given a choice, to return, then they are sucked back into the body.

Arguments for veridicality:
1. common cross-cultural similarities
2. anecdotal accounts of objective events perceived by dead people
3. changed lives

Arguments against veridicality:
1. can be explained biologically, religious conditioning
2. people like to believe in extraordinary things
it relies on self-reporting
3. a psychological explanation solves the changed lives

the veil of ignorance is necessary for faith, spiritual growth, etc.

we also discussed seances and mediums
Jonathan Edwards (Crossing Over) does cold readings, ferreting out info from psychological clues
James Randi offers a reward for proof of psychic powers