Note on Charles Richet’s ‘‘La Suggestion Mentale et le Calcul des Probabilites’’ (1884)

Abstract

In 1884 French physiologist Charles Richet published an article on ‘‘mental suggestion’’ in the Revue philosophique de la France et de l’etrangere that is an early classic of experimental parapsychology.  This work is generally remembered for the use of statistical evaluation of ESP experiments.  Nonetheless, Richet discussed other issues as well that are generally neglected.  This included reanalyses of previously published thought-transference studies, and discussions of topics such as the place of mental suggestion in science, study participants, and the relationship of mediumship to the unconscious mind.  Furthermore, in this paper Richet wrote about a variety of issues related to ESP such as its various features, targets, motor automatisms, its unconscious nature, and theoretical issues.

Keywords: Charles Richet—mental suggestion—ESP—French psychical research—mediumship