Your question assumes that everyone believes that some people have psycic abilities. I remain skeptical.

If "psycic" abilities do exists, then they are real and can be explained. Maybe not now, but sometime. Anything that is observable and repeatable is succeptible to scientifict study.

Chris wrote:

Your question assumes that everyone believes that some people have psycic abilities. I remain skeptical.

If "psycic" abilities do exists, then they are real and can be explained. Maybe not now, but sometime. Anything that is observable and repeatable is succeptible to scientifict study.

Actually, there are solutions to Maxwell’s Equations (as well as solutions to models of certain kinds of “ideal” electrical circuits) that seem to describe “non-physical” phenomena (i.e., they violate cause and effect), which, therefore, are dismissed as being...well...“non-physical” (i.e., not observed in nature). But who knows? Perhaps one day such mathematical results will be shown via experiment to represent certain kinds of “psychic” events in very specific circumstances.

Martin wrote:

Actually, there are solutions to Maxwell’s Equations (as well as solutions to models of certain kinds of “ideal” electrical circuits) that seem to describe “non-physical” phenomena (i.e., they violate cause and effect), which, therefore, are dismissed as being...well...“non-physical” (i.e., not observed in nature).

Really. Can you point me to some references?

Chris wrote:

Martin wrote:

Actually, there are solutions to Maxwell’s Equations (as well as solutions to models of certain kinds of “ideal” electrical circuits) that seem to describe “non-physical” phenomena (i.e., they violate cause and effect), which, therefore, are dismissed as being...well...“non-physical” (i.e., not observed in nature).

Really. Can you point me to some references?

I can’t recall any specific references. However, I can offer you some “food for thought”:

The mathematical solutions to Maxwell’s Equations are symmetric in both space and time. What this means is that for every outgoing (from the source) wave solution there’s an incoming (to the source) wave solution, and for every retarded (in time) solution there’s an advanced (in time) solution. The solution to any particular configuration is determined by taking a linear combination of these various forms and enforcing boundary conditions, which account for the effects of reflecting and/or absorbing physical boundaries (i.e., obstacles that can interact with the electromagnetic waves); further constraining the solutions by the assumption that sources emit, but do not absorb, radiation, and that points infinitely far from sources absorb, but do not emit, radiation; and applying the assumption of causality (i.e., rejecting the advanced solutions as non-physical mathematical solutions, because they represent effects that precede causes). Though it certainly seems reasonable to assume that “infinity” is an absorber of radiation but not an emitter, and that advanced solutions are simply non-physical mathematical results, we need to remind ourselves that these are clearly assumptions (so far seemingly supported by observation). There is nothing in the fundamental physics, however, that precludes the possibility that these assumptions may not be universally valid.

Similarly, if you calculate the impulse response of an ideal filter (a classical exercise contained in most intermediate-to-advanced network/circuit textbooks), you will find that the output occurs before the input is applied. This “non-physical” result is used to conclude that an “ideal” filter is physically “non-realizable” (i.e., cannot be constructed in “real life”). Quite a reasonable conclusion, but certainly one that relies on the assumption that causality cannot be violated.

Perhaps Mulder and Scully can shed more light on this stuff.

well, esp mabe has something to do with it

Really, if you get into the really crazy physics, theoretically, anything is possible.

So it would seem. I'm still a pretty big fan of causality, but some really convincing evidence to the contrary could move me.

Then again, according to those theories you would have to wait to the end of time to see one of these possibilities occur so I really don't hold too much faith in them.

I don't know about the end of time. We seem to double or triple or knowledge every decade, and with a rate of return like that who knows what we'll know near the end of my time.

NeoArcadian wrote:

Just wondering if anybody had any thoughts on why some people have psychic abilities.

I kind of believe it is somehow related to the brain and kind of believe it is related to a power of the cosmos that will never be explaned.

What's your oppinion?

Everyone has psychic abilities. Everyone. Some spend the time to develop them, while others do not. There are many "psychic" abilities; auric vision, extra sensory perception, telecommunication,  psychokensis, the ability to astral project, and yup, you guessed it: time travel. For example, one can become more "aware" of themself, space, upper, subconscious levels, through meditation. I believe that all physicts should meditate, yes, Buddist style. They would transcend themeself. But if you do not believe that, say, auric vision is "possible" there are exersices that can be done to develop, or awaken that potential. However, the psyche/mind is more under your contol than many think. If you do not "believe" in something, and you consciously tell yourself it is not real, or impossible, than that thought imbeds itself in the subconsicous. (Like every other single thought you have ever had) and your mind accepts it as TRUE. Thus, those "special esp psychic abilites" become even more dormant. Consciousness is the handle - to the door - to the unknown room.
My friend, if you are skeptical, that's fine. We are all thinkers here, you don't have to believe if any of these things "exist" or not. But I know for a fact that they do. So I will proceed:

Rember that the MIND and the BRAIN are not necessarily the same thing. It's true yes, the brain is the biophysical counterpart to the mind, but the true "mind" of the individual exists in a place that is -for lack of a better word- "above" the physical. Physical does not exist, it is merely a projection of consciousness from your MIND.