Koestler Parapsychology Unit - Revision history

GaryJJSpate at 02:08, 4 August 2026

2026-08-04T02:08:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:08, 4 August 2026
Line 7:		Line 7:
	\|status=Active		\|status=Active
	}}		}}
			{{tick}}
	The '''Koestler Parapsychology Unit''' (KPU) is a research group within the Department of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, established in 1985 to teach and conduct research into [[Parapsychology]].<ref name="psi-encyclopedia">{{cite web \|title=Koestler Parapsychology Unit (KPU) \|url=https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/koestler-parapsychology-unit/ \|publisher=Psi Encyclopedia (Society for Psychical Research)}}</ref> It hosts the only endowed chair of parapsychology in the United Kingdom.<ref name="bps-20years">{{cite web \|title=20 years at the Koestler Parapsychology Unit \|url=https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/20-years-koestler-parapsychology-unit \|publisher=British Psychological Society}}</ref> Rather than asking whether psychic ability is real, the unit's stated remit covers "what's not psychic but looks like it," focusing on why people believe they have had paranormal experiences and on strengthening the methodological rigour with which such claims are tested.<ref name="skepinquirer-watt">{{cite web \|title=Searching for Rigor: Caroline Watt \|url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/searching-for-rigor-caroline-watt/ \|publisher=Skeptical Inquirer}}</ref>		The '''Koestler Parapsychology Unit''' (KPU) is a research group within the Department of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, established in 1985 to teach and conduct research into [[Parapsychology]].<ref name="psi-encyclopedia">{{cite web \|title=Koestler Parapsychology Unit (KPU) \|url=https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/koestler-parapsychology-unit/ \|publisher=Psi Encyclopedia (Society for Psychical Research)}}</ref> It hosts the only endowed chair of parapsychology in the United Kingdom.<ref name="bps-20years">{{cite web \|title=20 years at the Koestler Parapsychology Unit \|url=https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/20-years-koestler-parapsychology-unit \|publisher=British Psychological Society}}</ref> Rather than asking whether psychic ability is real, the unit's stated remit covers "what's not psychic but looks like it," focusing on why people believe they have had paranormal experiences and on strengthening the methodological rigour with which such claims are tested.<ref name="skepinquirer-watt">{{cite web \|title=Searching for Rigor: Caroline Watt \|url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/searching-for-rigor-caroline-watt/ \|publisher=Skeptical Inquirer}}</ref>

GaryJJSpate at 02:07, 4 August 2026

2026-08-04T02:07:39Z

Show changes

GaryJJSpate at 21:37, 28 July 2026

2026-07-28T21:37:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:37, 28 July 2026
Line 20:		Line 20:

	== Later history ==		== Later history ==
	Robert Morris remained Koestler Professor until his death in August 2004. His successor, [[Caroline Watt]], a founding member of the unit and one of Morris's own doctoral students, continues to ~~lead~~ its ~~work~~. The unit maintains its own dedicated library within the University's Psychology Building, covering parapsychology research, the psi hypothesis and its alternatives, and the broader history of the field — the same institutional lineage traced on The Vault back through the [[Boston Society for Psychic Research\|Boston]] and [[Society for Psychical Research\|London]] societies, and forward through the [[Rhine Research Center]], Rhine's own institutional successor in the United States.		Robert Morris remained Koestler Professor until his death in August 2004. His successor, [[Caroline Watt]], a founding member of the unit and one of Morris's own doctoral students, now holds the title of Emeritus Professor of Parapsychology and continues to represent the unit publicly, including through its research registry and blog. The unit maintains its own dedicated library within the University's Psychology Building, covering parapsychology research, the psi hypothesis and its alternatives, and the broader history of the field — the same institutional lineage traced on The Vault back through the [[Boston Society for Psychic Research\|Boston]] and [[Society for Psychical Research\|London]] societies, and forward through the [[Rhine Research Center]], Rhine's own institutional successor in the United States.

	== See also ==		== See also ==
Line 27:		Line 27:

	== External links ==		== External links ==
			* [https://koestlerunit.wordpress.com/ Koestler Parapsychology Unit — official site]
	* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koestler_Parapsychology_Unit Wikipedia — Koestler Parapsychology Unit]		* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koestler_Parapsychology_Unit Wikipedia — Koestler Parapsychology Unit]
	* [https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/koestler-parapsychology-unit/ Psi Encyclopedia — Koestler Parapsychology Unit]		* [https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/koestler-parapsychology-unit/ Psi Encyclopedia — Koestler Parapsychology Unit]

GaryJJSpate at 21:34, 28 July 2026

2026-07-28T21:34:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:34, 28 July 2026
Line 8:		Line 8:
	}}		}}

	The '''Koestler Parapsychology Unit''' (KPU) is a research group within the Department of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, established in 1985 to teach and conduct research into ~~parapsychology~~. It hosts the only endowed chair of parapsychology in the United Kingdom.		The '''Koestler Parapsychology Unit''' (KPU) is a research group within the Department of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, established in 1985 to teach and conduct research into [[Parapsychology]]. It hosts the only endowed chair of parapsychology in the United Kingdom.

	== Founding ==		== Founding ==
	The unit was established through a bequest from writer Arthur Koestler and his wife, Cynthia, following their deaths in 1983. Koestler had a lifelong interest in the paranormal, explored in his 1972 book ''The Roots of Coincidence'', and wished for the subject to receive serious academic attention. Their will left funds to endow a chair in parapsychology at a UK university; Edinburgh's Department of Psychology, which already had a background in the subject through lecturer John Beloff since the early 1960s, was selected to host it.		The unit was established through a bequest from writer Arthur Koestler and his wife, Cynthia, following their deaths in 1983. Koestler had a lifelong interest in the paranormal, explored in his 1972 book ''The Roots of Coincidence'', and wished for the subject to receive serious academic attention. Their will left funds to endow a chair in parapsychology at a UK university; Edinburgh's Department of Psychology, which already had a background in the subject through lecturer John Beloff since the early 1960s, was selected to host it.

	~~''This section touches on suicide; if this or anything nearby affects you personally, support is available and I'm glad to point you toward it.''~~

	== Robert Morris and the unit's early years ==		== Robert Morris and the unit's early years ==
	American parapsychologist Robert Morris was appointed the first Koestler Professor of Parapsychology in December 1985, having previously trained at [[~~J. B. Rhine\|~~J. B. Rhine]]'s parapsychology laboratory at Duke University. Working initially with limited resources, Morris built up a small team of researchers, often funded through external grants from bodies including the [[Society for Psychical Research]] and the Parapsychological Association. Over almost two decades as Koestler Professor, Morris supervised more than 100 undergraduate projects and over 30 postgraduate students — many of whom went on to establish parapsychology research and teaching elsewhere in the UK and abroad, including Caroline Watt and Richard Wiseman.		American parapsychologist [[Robert Morris]] was appointed the first Koestler Professor of Parapsychology in December 1985, having previously trained at [[J. B. Rhine]]'s parapsychology laboratory at Duke University — the same lab behind [[Extra-Sensory Perception (book)\|Rhine's 1934 monograph]] and the wider tradition of [[Extrasensory Perception]] research. Working initially with limited resources, Morris built up a small team of researchers, often funded through external grants from bodies including the [[Society for Psychical Research]] and the Parapsychological Association. Over almost two decades as Koestler Professor, Morris supervised more than 100 undergraduate projects and over 30 postgraduate students — many of whom went on to establish parapsychology research and teaching elsewhere in the UK and abroad, including [[Caroline Watt]] and [[Richard Wiseman]].

	== Ganzfeld research ==		== Ganzfeld research ==
	In 1991, parapsychologist Charles Honorton — originator of the ganzfeld technique at Maimonides Medical Center in the 1970s — joined the KPU and began developing an automated ganzfeld laboratory there, continuing the free-response experimental tradition central to [[Telepathy]] research. Honorton was working on a manuscript with Cornell psychologist Daryl Bem describing the results of this work when he died shortly before its completion.		In 1991, parapsychologist [[Charles Honorton]] — originator of the ganzfeld technique at Maimonides Medical Center in the 1970s — joined the KPU and began developing an automated ganzfeld laboratory there, continuing the free-response experimental tradition central to [[Telepathy]] research. Honorton was working on a manuscript with Cornell psychologist [[Daryl Bem]] describing the results of this work when he died shortly before its completion. Bem went on to publish his own widely disputed 2011 "Feeling the Future" studies into [[Precognition]], a later chapter in the same free-response tradition Honorton had brought to Edinburgh.

	== Later history ==		== Later history ==
	Robert Morris remained Koestler Professor until his death in August 2004. His successor, Caroline Watt, a founding member of the unit and one of Morris's own doctoral students, continues to lead its work. The unit maintains its own dedicated library within the University's Psychology Building, covering parapsychology research, the psi hypothesis and its alternatives, and the broader history of the field.		Robert Morris remained Koestler Professor until his death in August 2004. His successor, [[Caroline Watt]], a founding member of the unit and one of Morris's own doctoral students, continues to lead its work. The unit maintains its own dedicated library within the University's Psychology Building, covering parapsychology research, the psi hypothesis and its alternatives, and the broader history of the field — the same institutional lineage traced on The Vault back through the [[Boston Society for Psychic Research\|Boston]] and [[Society for Psychical Research\|London]] societies, and forward through the [[Rhine Research Center]], Rhine's own institutional successor in the United States.

	== See also ==		== See also ==
	* [[J. B. Rhine]]
	* [[Telepathy]]
	* [[Extrasensory Perception]]
	* [[Parapsychology]]		* [[Parapsychology]]
	* [[~~Society for Psychical Research~~]]		* [[Precognition]]

	== External links ==		== External links ==
Line 35:		Line 30:
	* [https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/koestler-parapsychology-unit/ Psi Encyclopedia — Koestler Parapsychology Unit]		* [https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/koestler-parapsychology-unit/ Psi Encyclopedia — Koestler Parapsychology Unit]
	* [https://ppls.ed.ac.uk/psychology/research/facilities/philosophy-and-psychology-library/koestler-parapsychology-library University of Edinburgh — Koestler Parapsychology Library]		* [https://ppls.ed.ac.uk/psychology/research/facilities/philosophy-and-psychology-library/koestler-parapsychology-library University of Edinburgh — Koestler Parapsychology Library]
			* [https://www.rhine.org/ Rhine Research Center]
			* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_L._Morris Wikipedia — Robert L. Morris]

	[[Category:Organisations]]		[[Category:Organisations]]

GaryJJSpate: Created page with "{{OrganisationInfobox |name=Koestler Parapsychology Unit |type=University research unit |founded=1985 |founders=Robert Morris (founding chair); established via bequest from Arthur and Cynthia Koestler |known_for=UK's only endowed chair of parapsychology; automated ganzfeld research |status=Active }} The '''Koestler Parapsychology Unit''' (KPU) is a research group within the Department of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, established in 1985 to teach and conduct..."

2026-07-28T21:32:08Z

Created page with "{{OrganisationInfobox |name=Koestler Parapsychology Unit |type=University research unit |founded=1985 |founders=Robert Morris (founding chair); established via bequest from Arthur and Cynthia Koestler |known_for=UK's only endowed chair of parapsychology; automated ganzfeld research |status=Active }} The '''Koestler Parapsychology Unit''' (KPU) is a research group within the Department of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, established in 1985 to teach and conduct..."

New page

{{OrganisationInfobox
|name=Koestler Parapsychology Unit
|type=University research unit
|founded=1985
|founders=Robert Morris (founding chair); established via bequest from Arthur and Cynthia Koestler
|known_for=UK's only endowed chair of parapsychology; automated ganzfeld research
|status=Active
}}

The '''Koestler Parapsychology Unit''' (KPU) is a research group within the Department of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, established in 1985 to teach and conduct research into parapsychology. It hosts the only endowed chair of parapsychology in the United Kingdom.

== Founding ==
The unit was established through a bequest from writer Arthur Koestler and his wife, Cynthia, following their deaths in 1983. Koestler had a lifelong interest in the paranormal, explored in his 1972 book ''The Roots of Coincidence'', and wished for the subject to receive serious academic attention. Their will left funds to endow a chair in parapsychology at a UK university; Edinburgh's Department of Psychology, which already had a background in the subject through lecturer John Beloff since the early 1960s, was selected to host it.

''This section touches on suicide; if this or anything nearby affects you personally, support is available and I'm glad to point you toward it.''

== Robert Morris and the unit's early years ==
American parapsychologist Robert Morris was appointed the first Koestler Professor of Parapsychology in December 1985, having previously trained at [[J. B. Rhine|J. B. Rhine]]'s parapsychology laboratory at Duke University. Working initially with limited resources, Morris built up a small team of researchers, often funded through external grants from bodies including the [[Society for Psychical Research]] and the Parapsychological Association. Over almost two decades as Koestler Professor, Morris supervised more than 100 undergraduate projects and over 30 postgraduate students — many of whom went on to establish parapsychology research and teaching elsewhere in the UK and abroad, including Caroline Watt and Richard Wiseman.

== Ganzfeld research ==
In 1991, parapsychologist Charles Honorton — originator of the ganzfeld technique at Maimonides Medical Center in the 1970s — joined the KPU and began developing an automated ganzfeld laboratory there, continuing the free-response experimental tradition central to [[Telepathy]] research. Honorton was working on a manuscript with Cornell psychologist Daryl Bem describing the results of this work when he died shortly before its completion.

== Later history ==
Robert Morris remained Koestler Professor until his death in August 2004. His successor, Caroline Watt, a founding member of the unit and one of Morris's own doctoral students, continues to lead its work. The unit maintains its own dedicated library within the University's Psychology Building, covering parapsychology research, the psi hypothesis and its alternatives, and the broader history of the field.

== See also ==
* [[J. B. Rhine]]
* [[Telepathy]]
* [[Extrasensory Perception]]
* [[Parapsychology]]
* [[Society for Psychical Research]]

== External links ==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koestler_Parapsychology_Unit Wikipedia — Koestler Parapsychology Unit]
* [https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/koestler-parapsychology-unit/ Psi Encyclopedia — Koestler Parapsychology Unit]
* [https://ppls.ed.ac.uk/psychology/research/facilities/philosophy-and-psychology-library/koestler-parapsychology-library University of Edinburgh — Koestler Parapsychology Library]

[[Category:Organisations]]