General Discussion

whatthehey

(3,660 posts)

24. Well a universal metaphysical negative is a bit bold but...

Thu Dec 17, 2015, 04:17 PM

Dec 2015

....probably not. REALLY probably not. Blue scaly immortal lizards living on Venus level of probably not.

But we obviously can't outright dismiss anything that is not either internally self-contradictory or rendered impossible by universal laws of physics.

Is it possible that there is some kind of immeasurable, undetectable force that can project an ephemeral image of a once-living creature after death? I guess so. It is highly implausiuble that that image can interact with the living (with what matter or energy?) and even more so that it can have any consciousness or volition (no other mechanism for thought other than nerve cells and sodium/potassium permeability has ever been demonstrated, seriously hypothesized or even shown to be necessary or useful). But then maybe some immortal blue scaly lizards really thrive in a 450 degree high CO2 atmosphere with 90 odd times earth gravity.

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Are ghosts real? [View all] Renew Deal Dec 2015 OP

Recommended. H2O Man Dec 2015 #1

Don't know. bigwillq Dec 2015 #2

Absolutely. Shandris Dec 2015 #3

Can you explain what a residual harmonic resonance is? whatthehey Dec 2015 #25

A form of vibration, like everything. n/t Shandris Dec 2015 #41

OK - so what is vibrating and what is causing it to vibrate? whatthehey Dec 2015 #45

It's a good question. Presumably one day there will be a good, quality, scientific-style answer. Shandris Dec 2015 #48

Science is "busy trying to be a religion"? Yorktown Dec 2015 #62

That you weren't aware of this (and find it surprising) is enough of an indicator that this... Shandris Dec 2015 #73

Hope your wrist heals Yorktown Dec 2015 #80

Oh I can answer in short, even in moderate. Just not at length, sadly. =( Shandris Dec 2015 #82

I can easily show you where the two things are different Yorktown Dec 2015 #89

I think I see. Shandris Dec 2015 #92

I look forward to it. Yorktown Dec 2015 #99

Well when that day comes I'll take the idea seriously. Now? Not so much. whatthehey Dec 2015 #108

It really depends on the chakra Bonx Dec 2015 #52

groovy Facility Inspector Dec 2015 #111

Lol! Ok nt Logical Dec 2015 #74

Glad you were amused. n/t Shandris Dec 2015 #78

ROFLMAO snooper2 Dec 2015 #113

Being laughed at by the cocksure is a good sign I'm on the right path in life. Shandris Dec 2015 #119

I really wouldn't think that's a good sign, not by itself tkmorris Dec 2015 #120

I'd agree with the 'not by itself', but to be perfectly honest... Shandris Dec 2015 #121

when you try to explain ghosts as a "residual harmonic resonance" people are going to laugh snooper2 Dec 2015 #122

I've seen a few Omaha Steve Dec 2015 #4

Nope! Nt Logical Dec 2015 #75

i've seen Ghost Hunters....NO spanone Dec 2015 #5

I read somewhere once, why do ghosts have clothes on? If their spirit is lingering around, that raccoon Dec 2015 #6

The same reason every hospital isn't haunted by thousands of ghosts :) arcane1 Dec 2015 #29

High EMF fields can induce hallucinations. Oneironaut Dec 2015 #37

Re: waking up or in bed. Hypnagogic hallucination. longship Dec 2015 #90

Yup - that's also called sleep paralysis, or "old hag." Oneironaut Dec 2015 #100

Probably not but possibly, I believe so, I believe so. nt el_bryanto Dec 2015 #7

They are definitely NOT REAL. That being said, I've seen one NightWatcher Dec 2015 #8

So how are they not real? Reter Dec 2015 #17

Same way things in dreams aren't whatthehey Dec 2015 #27

So what do you believe happened? wheniwasincongress Dec 2015 #85

Only when seriously stoned. TreasonousBastard Dec 2015 #9

We are all ISB's padfun Dec 2015 #10

No, as they are clearly a cultural creation. longship Dec 2015 #11

Yes. I've known too many highly credible people, friends and family, CharlotteVale Dec 2015 #12

Like Fox Mulder "I want to believe" MowCowWhoHow III Dec 2015 #13

no Skittles Dec 2015 #14

Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House. longship Dec 2015 #22

I have the book and the movie! Skittles Dec 2015 #33

I reject the concept that gore == spooky. longship Dec 2015 #34

agreed Skittles Dec 2015 #59

Because it's easier to make a movie gory than to build suspense. raccoon Dec 2015 #98

I've seen them twice. zappaman Dec 2015 #15

Well, conservation of energy doesn't explain who ate all my biscottis Gregorian Dec 2015 #16

Of course not. Iggo Dec 2015 #18

Other: sometimes. mahina Dec 2015 #19

I saw my father - long dead - at 840high Dec 2015 #58

I read you. mahina Dec 2015 #86

Thank you. 840high Dec 2015 #95

Since there is no soul, or spirit, no they aren't brooklynite Dec 2015 #20

precisely! n/t wildbilln864 Dec 2015 #63

Are logical constructs real even if not based on a physical reality? Johonny Dec 2015 #21

Yes edhopper Dec 2015 #38

I've experienced some strange and unexplainable phenomena Blue_In_AK Dec 2015 #23

So has everyone. But most people realize it's coincidence. Nt Logical Dec 2015 #76

The one thing that happened to me Blue_In_AK Dec 2015 #83

If you're able and willing, could you share? wheniwasincongress Dec 2015 #88

Sure. Blue_In_AK Dec 2015 #93

could it have Chris? wheniwasincongress Dec 2015 #94

No, he hadn't gotten up from the couch Blue_In_AK Dec 2015 #96

We can disagree on this. There is no proof of anything like ghosts. Nt Logical Dec 2015 #103

I never said it was a ghost, Blue_In_AK Dec 2015 #118

I think most people wheniwasincongress Dec 2015 #87

So true! Nt Logical Dec 2015 #104

Well a universal metaphysical negative is a bit bold but... whatthehey Dec 2015 #24

No. Nye Bevan Dec 2015 #26

In the original Scooby Doo. Later versions did not honor that, I think. longship Dec 2015 #35

You know edhopper Dec 2015 #39

Yeah, but they're always doing it Mariana Dec 2015 #53

Yes. But, only in the sense that energy can't die or be destroyed. Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2015 #28

One problem. longship Dec 2015 #36

Doesn't the process require energy? Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2015 #40

Well, energy comes from well known processes as well. longship Dec 2015 #42

Doesn't the brain function on energy and process it into another form? Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2015 #43

All energy in ones body comes from the same source. longship Dec 2015 #46

Technically that's not true b/c energy is used. Oneironaut Dec 2015 #65

so a battery should never run dead... wildbilln864 Dec 2015 #64

The energy of the body is spent in the decomposition process and transferred to the soil Spider Jerusalem Dec 2015 #101

I don't pretend to know... LanternWaste Dec 2015 #30

Lol, how about elfs or unicorns? Any pretense there? Nt Logical Dec 2015 #106

Seen 'em 2naSalit Dec 2015 #31

I say no, but then again that is a function of what reality really is and the interactive RKP5637 Dec 2015 #32

Not real they don't exist in reality. People see things virtually though GusBob Dec 2015 #44

I think so, yes justiceischeap Dec 2015 #47

We percieve reality by our senses. Xolodno Dec 2015 #49

I voted NO, bvar22 Dec 2015 #50

Story that won't convince anyone, but... Maeve Dec 2015 #51

We had a "ghost" Mariana Dec 2015 #54

I hope so. wendylaroux Dec 2015 #55

Maybe it's foolishness... Docreed2003 Dec 2015 #56

I'm a scientist through and through mrs_p Dec 2015 #57

We view the universe through our "frame of reference" and perceived reality. IMO in the big RKP5637 Dec 2015 #61

No evidence of ghosts, even with cameras everywhere. And you have to know..... Logical Dec 2015 #107

I never said my experience mrs_p Dec 2015 #123

absolutely... wildbilln864 Dec 2015 #60

Seen one in my life a la izquierda Dec 2015 #66

Ghosts, gods, ghouls, gremlins, goblins, grindilows: I want to believe Yorktown Dec 2015 #67

No. Just No. GeorgeGist Dec 2015 #68

Don't care. nt icymist Dec 2015 #69

No. That requires a soul separate from the physical form, which has not been demonstrated to exist. NuclearDem Dec 2015 #70

Ghosts of election cycle past PowerToThePeople Dec 2015 #71

"Evanescent form"? IDemo Dec 2015 #72

No! Common sense and no proof! But people love make believe! Nt Logical Dec 2015 #77

I see a lot of 'em here on DU. MADem Dec 2015 #79

im exercising a policy SwampG8r Dec 2015 #117

My granddaughter was looking through a photo album with her 3 1/2-year-old son. Frustratedlady Dec 2015 #81

I ask everyone who believes they saw one wheniwasincongress Dec 2015 #84

In Shinto there are many tales of ghosts yuiyoshida Dec 2015 #91

I think ghosts are social osmosis and the power of suggestion Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2015 #97

"My house is haunted" is incredibly narcissistic Nevernose Dec 2015 #102

Isn't 'real ghost' an oxymoron? randome Dec 2015 #105

I'm a believer. mnhtnbb Dec 2015 #109

only when people are stupid Facility Inspector Dec 2015 #110

No and I don't believe in the Holy Ghost either! B Calm Dec 2015 #112

Not in any external, falsifiable sense. Orsino Dec 2015 #114

I have seen things I can't explain. NCTraveler Dec 2015 #115

If so, what are they made of? bhikkhu Dec 2015 #116

No. Owl Dec 2015 #124

Several times I've witnessed a person who had just died express themselves. KittyWampus Dec 2015 #125

No EdwardBernays Dec 2015 #126