Linguistic Analysis and Psychical Research 1940–1960: The Case of Casimir Lewy

Between 1940 and 1960, British analytic philosophers, particularly Casimir Lewy, applied linguistic analysis to psychical research—the study of telepathy, clairvoyance, ghosts, and communication with the dead. Lewy's early work marks a sustained effort to examine the meaning of language used by psychical researchers. This period is significant because it represents a unique chapter in analytic philosophy, focused on the language of psychical phenomena, and because the origins of analytic philosophy of religion are inseparable from this engagement with psychical research.

Study at a glance

Abstract

abstract: This paper explores a hitherto overlooked chapter in the history of analytic philosophy, namely the role that psychical research (i.e. the study of phenomena like telepathy, clairvoyance, ghosts, or communication with spirits of the dead) played in British philosophy between 1940 and 1960. This paper focuses on Casimir Lewy’s (1919–91) engagement with psychical research and demonstrates that Lewy’s early work constitutes a move toward sustained application of the linguistic method to psychical research between 1940 and 1960. I argue that paying attention to psychical research during this period is significant for two reasons. The first is that this period represents a unique chapter in the history of the analytic tradition, namely, a philosophical preoccupation with the meaning of the language used by psychical researchers. The second is that a foundational moment in the history of analytic philosophy of religion is inseparable from its origin in psychical research.