Philip Experiment Notes Overview

Overview

The Philip Experiment (1972-1973) was a parapsychological investigation by the Toronto Society for Psychical Research to determine whether physical phenomena traditionally attributed to spirits could be produced by ordinary people creating an entirely fictional ghost.

Historical Context of Spiritualism

• Mediumistic circles have met for over 100 years hoping to contact deceased spirits through séances
• Victorian-era spiritualism peaked in the 1870s with widespread interest in spirit communication
• Many spirit mediums were fraudulent; séances typically held in darkness or subdued lighting made deception easy
• Research by Sir William Crooks (with D.D. Home) and Harry Price (with Stella Crankshaw, 1923) validated some genuine physical phenomena
• Traditional séances involved participants seated around tables, sometimes with hands touching, awaiting spirit manifestations

Experimental Design and Objectives

Primary Research Questions:

1. Could physical phenomena be produced in full light rather than darkness?
2. Was a spirit medium necessary, or could ordinary people generate effects?
3. Were phenomena caused by disembodied spirits or by living participants' minds?

Team Composition:

• Eight members of the Toronto Society for Psychical Research
• Led by Dr. George Owen, director of the society
• All participants were ordinary people: housewife, accountant, industrial designer, salesman, engineer
• None claimed mediumistic abilities; psychical research was one of several interests

Philip's Fictional Biography

Character Details:

Story Development:

• Created by group member Sue, who narrated the biography one week after conception
• Group discussed character details until consensus reached on all aspects
• Portrait drawn by Andy and agreed to be accurate likeness
• Historical errors deliberately introduced to emphasize fictional nature

Methodology Evolution

Initial Phase (1972-1973):

• Group met weekly to meditate on Philip and his adventures
• No apparition appeared; observers occasionally noted slight mist in circle center (possibly visual fatigue)
• Objects suggestive of Philip's era displayed: fencing foils, 17th-century items, mince pies

Revised Approach (Fall 1973):

• Inspired by British Society for Psychical Research articles (Batchelor, Brookes-Smith, Hunt)
• Adopted séance-like setup: sitting around table in atmosphere of joviality and relaxation
• Sang songs like "Lloyd George Knew My Father," "Onward Christian Soldiers," "Greensleeves," "Amazing Grace"
• Addressed questions to table as if it were Philip
• Required training in childlike, playful psychological attitude versus adult skepticism
• Used same four-legged table for most sittings

Results and Phenomena Observed

Initial Manifestations:

• First vibration felt in table shortly after adopting new approach
• Raps heard emanating from inside table
• Communication system established: one rap for yes, two raps for no

Physical Effects:

• Table glided across pile carpet spontaneously
• Table reared up on one or two legs (impossible to reproduce by pushing)
• Table movements occurred in bright light with observers present
• Multiple tables destroyed during experiments; wooden table leg broke during one session
• Table bounced and moved with paper doilies under hands (eliminating pressure/friction explanation)
• Raps produced in walls of room
• One instance of table lifting approximately half inch off floor (carpeted), witnessed by multiple observers

Communication Characteristics:

• Philip answered questions through rap code (one for yes, two for no)
• Responses immediate and emphatic when question had obvious answer group agreed on
• Responses feebler and delayed when members uncertain or needed time to reason out answer
• Philip's answers reflected majority consensus of group members' expectations

Scientific Analysis

Research Precautions:

• Society research committee under Dr. Owen took every precaution against fraud
• Phenomena categorically stated as genuine and not produced by trickery
• Experiments conducted in bright light with outside witnesses present
• Microphone placed under table to record raps
• All participants' hands visible during phenomena

Expert Analysis by Dr. Joel Whitten (Medical Psychologist):

• Experiment important because laboratory-based and reproducible
• Group achieved childlike creativity through play, singing, and humor
• Childlike mindset ("if I want to do it, it can be done") versus adult skepticism ("against laws of physics")
• Rapping and table-turning may symbolize energy concentration or psychological defense mechanism
• Group demonstrated joint neutrality: members intuitively sensed each other's feelings
• Experiment expanded understanding of parapsychology beyond telepathy and precognition

Participant Perspectives:

• Phenomenon represents physical energy from combined human thought (psychokinesis)
• Skill can be learned through training, similar to learning musical instrument
• Traditional hauntings may be projections from living minds rather than spirits
• Abstract thought transformed into concrete experimental results

Key Findings and Implications

Primary Conclusions:

1. Normal, non-mediumistic people can generate strong physical force without supernatural aid
2. Force is latent in ordinary human beings; no spirit medium required
3. Psychological skill can be trained: requires childlike playfulness, group rapport, shared focus
4. Imaginary communicator phenomenon suggests traditional hauntings may have psychological rather than spiritual origins

Continuing Research:

• Group planned to continue work to understand underlying force better
• Second imaginary character (Lilith) created to test replicability with different story
• Hoped other groups would imitate experiment with variations
• Results suggested need to explore how combined thought transforms into physical effects

Philosophical Implications:

• Questions existence of spirits as independent entities
• Suggests unknown forces in universe different from four known physics forces
• Demonstrates power of focused group consciousness
• Challenges traditional spiritualist interpretations of séance phenomena

Action Items / Next Steps

• Toronto group continuing experiments to deepen understanding of psychokinetic force
• Encouraging other research groups to replicate experiment with original variations
• Further investigation needed into how thought transforms into physical effect
• Physicists needed to study energy transformation mechanism
• Psychologists to explore group dynamics enabling shared consciousness and physical manifestation