180. Dr??? William Bray

[alextsakiris]

Update 8/15/2012:

A few weeks back I had the pleasure and the privilege to sit in as a guest host for Skeptiko interviewing a very interesting guest, William Bray, author of the book "Quantum Physics, Near Death Experiences, Eternal Consciousness, Religion, and the Human Soul" . After the interview various Skeptiko listeners raised questions regarding W. Bray's scientific credentials, considering that the book deals with various very specialized aspects of quantum mechanics. This type of inquiries (proof of tittle, peer-reviewed publications, etc) is very common and completely legitimate for those publishing books on science and making public claims. So far William Bray has been unwilling to provide proof of his academic qualifications, or work-related credentials.

In the truly skeptical and impartial spirit of Skeptiko, I can no longer stand behind the claims of William Bray unless/until he's able to verify these claims regarding his credentials. -- Enrique Vargas

[Craig Weiler]

Originally Posted by alextsakiris

Update 8/15/2012:

A few weeks back I had the pleasure and the privilege to sit in as a guest host for Skeptiko interviewing a very interesting guest, William Bray, author of the book "Quantum Physics, Near Death Experiences, Eternal Consciousness, Religion, and the Human Soul" . After the interview various Skeptiko listeners raised questions regarding W. Bray's scientific credentials, considering that the book deals with various very specialized aspects of quantum mechanics. This type of inquiries (proof of tittle, peer-reviewed publications, etc) is very common and completely legitimate for those publishing books on science and making public claims. So far William Bray has been unwilling to provide proof of his academic qualifications, or work-related credentials.

In the truly skeptical and impartial spirit of Skeptiko, I can no longer stand behind the claims of William Bray unless/until he's able to verify these claims regarding his credentials. -- Enrique Vargas

I did a quick google search and turned up nothing. Usually people in his position show up online in directories and such referencing their association with various organizations. Considering that he claims having worked in many different areas, you'd think that something of that sort would show up. It does with other people. Other than his books, I can find nothing on him.

I dunno.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by alextsakiris

Update 8/15/2012:

A few weeks back I had the pleasure and the privilege to sit in as a guest host for Skeptiko interviewing a very interesting guest, William Bray, author of the book "Quantum Physics, Near Death Experiences, Eternal Consciousness, Religion, and the Human Soul" . After the interview various Skeptiko listeners raised questions regarding W. Bray's scientific credentials, considering that the book deals with various very specialized aspects of quantum mechanics. This type of inquiries (proof of tittle, peer-reviewed publications, etc) is very common and completely legitimate for those publishing books on science and making public claims. So far William Bray has been unwilling to provide proof of his academic qualifications, or work-related credentials.

In the truly skeptical and impartial spirit of Skeptiko, I can no longer stand behind the claims of William Bray unless/until he's able to verify these claims regarding his credentials. -- Enrique Vargas

He had several statements that smelled of a person that exaggerated a lot or because of the book is making one the the biggest Poes I have seen.

Good to see that lack of being able to support such simple claims has caused a - things might not be as put forth - response.

[phs1it]

Originally Posted by Scott

He had several statements that smelled of a person that exaggerated a lot or because of the book is making one the the biggest Poes I have seen.

Good to see that lack of being able to support such simple claims has caused a - things might not be as put forth - response.

More wonderment at Autobiography of an Ordinary Guy - My 400,000 Years of Changing the Human Timeline: A Sci-fi Story?: William Joseph Bray: Amazon.com: Kindle Store

[Michael Larkin]

Personally, I wouldn't mind if the man washed dishes for a living, if his book was written well enough so that I could understand it, or even well enough so that I knew I couldn't understand it.

If he has two PhDs, one wonders how he managed to write his theses. If he's worked for various prestigious organisations, one wonders how he managed to communicate effectively in writing.

If he is who he says he is, but wants to retain his privacy, then one might expect him to use a pseudonym; but if so, why not simply say so? A pseudonym is no less effective in concealing identity because it's admitted to, and it would in fact plausibly explain his coyness.

On the other hand, if he's not using a pseudonym, then anyone with the credentials he claims on his website should be traceable via a web search.

The most plausible explanation seems to be that he isn't who he claims to be, and has sought to create the impression he is somebody of note to add credence to his book.

That, in and of itself, doesn't in principle invalidate what he has written, but since I find that incomprehensible (and others with more expertise seem to find it flawed), his book isn't self-validating.

I mean, a dishwasher (or patent clerk) might be able to write a couple of papers that change the world, and we'd not need to know who he was; and nor would he have to make insubstantiable claims about himself. The papers would speak for themselves.

It looks like Bray slipped through the net, and I don't blame anyone for that--I'm also a trusting kind of person and can get caught out by an impostor as soon as the next guy. Maybe in the future Alex, or anyone else doing a podcast, just needs to check credentials and be satisfied with them as a precondition for proceeding. I think no less highly of Alex or Enrique because of what's happened.

[Enrique Vargas]

Originally Posted by Michael Larkin

Personally, I wouldn't mind if the man washed dishes for a living, if his book was written well enough so that I could understand it, or even well enough so that I knew I couldn't understand it.

If he has two PhDs, one wonders how he managed to write his theses. If he's worked for various prestigious organisations, one wonders how he managed to communicate effectively in writing.

If he is who he says he is, but wants to retain his privacy, then one might expect him to use a pseudonym; but if so, why not simply say so? A pseudonym is no less effective in concealing identity because it's admitted to, and it would in fact plausibly explain his coyness.

On the other hand, if he's not using a pseudonym, then anyone with the credentials he claims on his website should be traceable via a web search.

The most plausible explanation seems to be that he isn't who he claims to be, and has sought to create the impression he is somebody of note to add credence to his book.

That, in and of itself, doesn't in principle invalidate what he has written, but since I find that incomprehensible (and others with more expertise seem to find it flawed), his book isn't self-validating.

I mean, a dishwasher (or patent clerk) might be able to write a couple of papers that change the world, and we'd not need to know who he was; and nor would he have to make insubstantiable claims about himself. The papers would speak for themselves.

It looks like Bray slipped through the net, and I don't blame anyone for that--I'm also a trusting kind of person and can get caught out by an impostor as soon as the next guy. Maybe in the future Alex, or anyone else doing a podcast, just needs to check credentials and be satisfied with them as a precondition for proceeding. I think no less highly of Alex or Enrique because of what's happened.

As a matter of fact, a few days ago, meaning, a few weeks after the interview, W. Bray told me that he was using a pseudonym. As far as I know, in similar situations a simple procedure is usually done to resolve the situation: any person with verifiable scientific credentials could vouch for him saying they know who he is and his credentials are real.

PS. I'm greatly saddened by this whole situation... What seemed like an interesting and provocative interview degenerated into this unpleasant spectacle...

[gabriel]

I knew I should never have trusted anything with big maths. Now where did I put my anecdote..?

[Michael Larkin]

Originally Posted by Enrique Vargas

As a matter of fact, a few days ago, meaning, a few weeks after the interview, W. Bray told me that he was using a pseudonym. As far as I know, in similar situations a simple procedure is usually done to resolve the situation: any person with verifiable scientific credentials could vouch for him saying they know who he is and his credentials are real.

PS. I'm greatly saddened by this whole situation... What seemed like an interesting and provocative interview degenerated into this unpleasant spectacle...

Don't beat yourself up, Enrique. Stuff like this happens, and we can only learn from it and move on. I've been enjoying your erudite musical contributions on the latest podcast thread; like I said, have no issues with you, and I doubt anyone else does.

On the point that he's now said he uses a pseudonym, and the thought that a mutually trusted third party could vouch for him, fair enough. But unless and until that happens, well, the issue remains moot.

[Enrique Vargas]

Originally Posted by Michael Larkin

Don't beat yourself up, Enrique. Stuff like this happens, and we can only learn from it and move on. I've been enjoying your erudite musical contributions on the latest podcast thread; like I said, have no issues with you, and I doubt anyone else does.

On the point that he's now said he uses a pseudonym, and the thought that a mutually trusted third party could vouch for him, fair enough. But unless and until that happens, well, the issue remains moot.

Thanks, Michael, I appreciate it.. :-)

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by Enrique Vargas

PS. I'm greatly saddened by this whole situation... What seemed like an interesting and provocative interview degenerated into this unpleasant spectacle...

Please don't feel that way - Skeptiko is at its best getting at the truth, and unfortunately the subject of psi attracts some pretty flaky people on both sides of the debate. In the past, Alex has given podcast time to some equally flaky skeptics - such as Woerlee - and it helps to see what is wrong with the fringes of the debate - it is just a shame that this was your first interview on Skeptiko!

Thanks Alex for being so upfront about this problem.

I must say, I gave up on this interview at about the 50% mark because it seemed too full of bluster, and wasn't informing me in the slightest about the relationship between QM and psi/NDE's.

David