Susan Blackmore

Susan Blackmore is a British psychologist, writer, and broadcaster, known for her work on parapsychology, memetics, and consciousness studies. She has written for various publications, including The Guardian, The Times, and New Scientist, and has appeared on television programs such as BBC Horizon and Channel 4. Blackmore's work has been influenced by Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Steven Pinker, and she has been associated with organizations like the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the British Humanist Association. Her research has also been shaped by the ideas of Charles Darwin, Sigmund Freud, and Karl Popper.

● Early Life and Education

Blackmore was born in London and grew up in a family of Quakers. She studied physics and mathematics at St Hilda's College, Oxford, and later earned a Ph.D. in parapsychology from Surrey University. During her time at Oxford University, she was influenced by the work of Francis Crick, Roger Penrose, and David Bohm. Her early interests in parapsychology were shaped by the research of J.B. Rhine and the Parapsychological Association.

● Career

Blackmore's career has spanned various fields, including psychology, philosophy, and broadcasting. She has worked as a lecturer at University of the West of England and has written for numerous publications, including The Psychologist and Skeptic. Her work has been featured on television programs such as BBC Radio 4 and Channel 4 News, and she has appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report. Blackmore has also been a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and has worked with organizations like the James Randi Educational Foundation and the Skeptics Society.

● Research and Publications

Blackmore's research has focused on parapsychology, memetics, and consciousness studies. She has written several books, including The Meme Machine and Conversations on Consciousness, which explore the ideas of Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett. Her work has also been influenced by the research of Francis Crick, Gerald Edelman, and Roger Penrose. Blackmore has published papers in journals such as Nature, Science, and Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, and has presented at conferences like the Toward a Science of Consciousness conference and the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness.

● Paranormal Claims and Skepticism

Blackmore is a prominent skeptic and has written extensively on the topic of paranormal claims. She has investigated claims of telepathy, clairvoyance, and psychokinesis, and has written about the work of James Randi and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Blackmore has also been critical of pseudoscience and has written about the dangers of irrational thinking, citing the work of Carl Sagan and the Skeptical Inquirer. Her skepticism has been influenced by the ideas of Karl Popper, Imre Lakatos, and Paul Feyerabend.

● Personal Life and Beliefs

Blackmore is a humanist and has written about her atheism and secularism. She has been involved with organizations like the British Humanist Association and the National Secular Society, and has written for publications like The Humanist and New Humanist. Blackmore's personal life has been influenced by the ideas of Bertrand Russell, John Stuart Mill, and Jean-Paul Sartre, and she has written about the importance of critical thinking and rational inquiry, citing the work of Aristotle, René Descartes, and David Hume.

● Awards and Legacy

Blackmore has received several awards for her work, including the CSICOP award for skeptical inquiry and the National Science Foundation award for public understanding of science. She has been recognized for her contributions to science communication and skeptical inquiry, and has been named a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the British Humanist Association. Blackmore's legacy continues to be felt in the fields of parapsychology, memetics, and consciousness studies, and her work has been cited by researchers like Daniel Dennett, Steven Pinker, and Sam Harris. Her influence can also be seen in the work of organizations like the Skeptics Society and the James Randi Educational Foundation, and she continues to be a prominent voice in the skeptical movement, alongside figures like Michael Shermer and James Alcock. Category:British psychologists