John G. Taylor: Difference between revisions
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Taylor after witnessing [[metal bending]] by [[Uri Geller]] became interested in [[parapsychology]]. At first he believed that Geller's feats were genuine as well as other reported paranormal phenomena. He wrote a book titled ''Superminds: an enquiry into the paranormal'' (1975) in which he argued for a physical explanation for the paranormal. He believed the explanation for metal bending, [[psychokinesis]], ESP and other paranormal phenomena may be found in [[electromagnetism]]. He was concerned to establish whether there is an electromagnetic basis for the phenomena however after failing to find it, he did not believe that there could be any other physical explanation. Many of his experiments under laboratory conditions were negative which left him skeptical regarding the validity of the reported phenomena. "John and I published 2 papers in "Nature", the most well-respected general science journal in the world. In them we reported our experimental work and our theoretical implications. Never a scientist was more honest and rigorous as him. He was unfairly denigrated by colleagues of the scientific establishment" says Dr. Eduardo Balanovski, his co-worker. Taylor later became a skeptic of the paranormal, in his book ''Science and the Supernatural'' (1980) he declared that all reports of ESP and psychokinesis were either frauds or [[hallucinations]] as he came to the conclusion that the paranormal can not be reconciled with modern physics.<ref>David Ray Griffin ''Parapsychology, philosophy, and spirituality: a postmodern exploration'' 1997, pp. 31-32</ref><ref>. |
Taylor after witnessing [[metal bending]] by [[Uri Geller]] became interested in [[parapsychology]]. At first he believed that Geller's feats were genuine as well as other reported paranormal phenomena. He wrote a book titled ''Superminds: an enquiry into the paranormal'' (1975) in which he argued for a physical explanation for the paranormal. He believed the explanation for metal bending, [[psychokinesis]], ESP and other paranormal phenomena may be found in [[electromagnetism]]. He was concerned to establish whether there is an electromagnetic basis for the phenomena however after failing to find it, he did not believe that there could be any other physical explanation. Many of his experiments under laboratory conditions were negative which left him skeptical regarding the validity of the reported phenomena. "John and I published 2 papers in "Nature", the most well-respected general science journal in the world. In them we reported our experimental work and our theoretical implications. Never a scientist was more honest and rigorous as him. He was unfairly denigrated by colleagues of the scientific establishment" says Dr. Eduardo Balanovski, his co-worker. Taylor later became a skeptic of the paranormal, in his book ''Science and the Supernatural'' (1980) he declared that all reports of ESP and psychokinesis were either frauds or [[hallucinations]] as he came to the conclusion that the paranormal can not be reconciled with modern physics.<ref>David Ray Griffin ''Parapsychology, philosophy, and spirituality: a postmodern exploration'' 1997, pp. 31-32</ref><ref>. |
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Prof. Taylor suffered the unfair criticism and denigration from colleagues of the scientific establishment, |
Prof. Taylor suffered the unfair criticism and denigration from colleagues of the scientific establishment, |
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For this he and his family were very brave.John |
For this he and his family were very brave.John and I published 2 papers in "Nature", the most respected journal of general science in the world. In these we discussed our 3 year experimental work,1975-78 and concluded that only psychic healing stood a chance to be a real phenomenon, coupled to an increase in the rate of self-healing mechanisms of the body, catalyzed by the healer. Albeit its electromagnetic connection could not be established. The second paper discussed the theoretical implications of these, says Dr.Eduardo Balanovski, his co-worker."John's rigorous treatment and experimental design were unmatched, as well as his dedication."[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=7T3HMhAveokC&pg=PA338&dq=john+taylor+electromagnetism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=e5c6T6zHB46k-gaf1YCtBw&ved=0CEIQuwUwAQ#v=onepage&q=john%20taylor%20electromagnetism&f=false What Price Geller Now? Lawrence McGinty New Scientist 2 Nov 1978]</ref> |
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==Published books== |
==Published books== |
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Revision as of 18:52, 5 March 2014
John Gerald Taylor (18 August 1931 – 10 March 2012) was a British physicist and author.[1]
Biography
Taylor gained a PhD from Christ's College, Cambridge (1950–1956). He had a wide ranging academic career in mathematical physics and artificial intelligence. He was an Emeritus Professor and Director of the Centre for Neural Networks at King's College London and Guest Scientist of the Research Centre at the Institute of Medicine in Jülich, Germany. From 2007-2012, Prof. Taylor had led a unique research program at Commerzbank's Alternative Investment Strategies (COMAS) Group. The program uses artificial intelligence techniques to create portfolios of hedge funds. This is the first program of its kind in the fund of hedge funds industry.
In 2011, Prof Taylor co-founded Commonwealth Capital Management LLP together with Nathaniel Philip Rothschild and Mehraj Mattoo. The company launched its first systematic fund of CTAs on Deutsche Bank's dbSelect platform based on Prof. Taylor's artificial intelligence models developed while he worked at COMAS.
His previous positions and interests, while still at Kings College, were in mathematics and physics. He is the author of many popular books.[2][3][4]
Taylor also trained as an actor and performed in plays and films, wrote several science fiction plays as well as directing stage productions in Oxford and Cambridge.
Parapsychology
Taylor after witnessing metal bending by Uri Geller became interested in parapsychology. At first he believed that Geller's feats were genuine as well as other reported paranormal phenomena. He wrote a book titled Superminds: an enquiry into the paranormal (1975) in which he argued for a physical explanation for the paranormal. He believed the explanation for metal bending, psychokinesis, ESP and other paranormal phenomena may be found in electromagnetism. He was concerned to establish whether there is an electromagnetic basis for the phenomena however after failing to find it, he did not believe that there could be any other physical explanation. Many of his experiments under laboratory conditions were negative which left him skeptical regarding the validity of the reported phenomena. "John and I published 2 papers in "Nature", the most well-respected general science journal in the world. In them we reported our experimental work and our theoretical implications. Never a scientist was more honest and rigorous as him. He was unfairly denigrated by colleagues of the scientific establishment" says Dr. Eduardo Balanovski, his co-worker. Taylor later became a skeptic of the paranormal, in his book Science and the Supernatural (1980) he declared that all reports of ESP and psychokinesis were either frauds or hallucinations as he came to the conclusion that the paranormal can not be reconciled with modern physics.[5][6]
Published books
He is author of the following books:
- The Mind: A User's Manual, (2006), ISBN 0-470-02222-1.[7]
- Neural Networks and the Financial Markets Predicting, Combining, and Portfolio Optimisation (2002), ISBN 1-85233-531-9
- The Race for Consciousness (1999), ISBN 0-262-20115-1.[8]
- The Promise of Neural Networks (Perspectives in Neural Computing), (1993), ISBN 3-540-19773-7.
- Science and the Supernatural: An Investigation of Paranormal Phenomena Including Psychic Healing, Clairvoyance, Telepathy, and Precognition by a Distinguished Physicist and Mathematician (1980), ISBN 0-85117-191-5
- Superminds: An Enquiry into the Paranormal (1975), ISBN 0-333-17701-0
- New Worlds in Physics (1974), ISBN 0-571-10258-1
- Black Holes: The End of the Universe? (1973), ISBN 0-380-00327-9
- The New Physics (1972), ISBN 0-465-05066-2
- The Shape of Minds to Come (1971), ISBN 0-7181-0788-8
Notes
- ^ "King's College London - January/February 2012". Kcl.ac.uk. 1931-08-18. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
- ^ Prof JG Taylor Department of Mathematics King's College London
- ^ King's College London Computational Neuroscience Group
- ^ Biography of John G. Taylor
- ^ David Ray Griffin Parapsychology, philosophy, and spirituality: a postmodern exploration 1997, pp. 31-32
- ^ . Prof. Taylor suffered the unfair criticism and denigration from colleagues of the scientific establishment, For this he and his family were very brave.John and I published 2 papers in "Nature", the most respected journal of general science in the world. In these we discussed our 3 year experimental work,1975-78 and concluded that only psychic healing stood a chance to be a real phenomenon, coupled to an increase in the rate of self-healing mechanisms of the body, catalyzed by the healer. Albeit its electromagnetic connection could not be established. The second paper discussed the theoretical implications of these, says Dr.Eduardo Balanovski, his co-worker."John's rigorous treatment and experimental design were unmatched, as well as his dedication."What Price Geller Now? Lawrence McGinty New Scientist 2 Nov 1978
- ^ Wiley
- ^ Review from Mind:[1].
External links
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