The Psychic Force Serialized: William Crookes and The Quarterly Journal of Science, 1870–1874
Event Details
Event Contact
Event Description
- Full Description:
- This paper considers the way chemist William Crookes (1832–1919) utilized the editorship of the Quarterly Journal of Science to promote the scientific importance of spirit phenomena. It explores the publishing of Crookes’s series of sensational articles that investigated the ‘Psychic Force’ (1870–1874), a purported force of nature that Crookes discovered during experiments with the medium Daniel Dunglas Home (1833–1886). Crookes thus used the platform afforded to him in the journal to describe his experiments and present his evidence within the framework of an orthodox scientific discourse. While Crookes endured much criticism from certain scientific men, the serial format of his investigation meant that he was able to generate a great deal of interest. It also meant that his subsequent articles in the series could respond to critics by adjusting his experiments, overcoming perceived difficulties, and providing his readers with new and exciting details concerning his ongoing investigation as it was being conducted.
Directions to UQ
Event Tools
Share This Event
Print
Email
Share
Rate This Event
Tweet This Event
Calendar Tools
Featured Calendars
Subscribe via RSS