seminars > seminar Autumn 2005
Magic: the desire to believe and the desire to debunk
Dr. Peter Lamont
Dr. Peter Lamont is a Research Fellow at the Koestler Parapsychology Unit, University of Edinburgh. He is currently an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Fellow in the Creative and Performing Arts. Peter is also a former professional magician, a past president of the Edinburgh Magic Circle, and author of three books on the history and psychology of magic and psychic phenomena.
People have long believed in magic, psychic and supernatural phenomena. But the desire to disbelieve is no less powerful than the desire to believe. Debunkers as well as believers display the endless human capacity for gullibility, deception and wishful thinking.