02280cam a22003373u 4500 73761 UtSlPG 20260610134715.0 m cr n 260607r20241813utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d 11006890 UtSlPG en iso639-1 BF Ferriar, John, 1761-1815 An essay towards a theory of apparitions Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2024 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2024-06-03 Tim Lindell, Susan E. and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) "An Essay Towards a Theory of Apparitions" by John Ferriar is a scientific publication written in the early 19th century. The work aims to explore the phenomenon of apparitions through a systematic and rational approach, proposing medical and psychological explanations for spectral impressions observed in various historical anecdotes and personal testimonies. The opening of the essay sets the stage for an extensive examination of apparitions, beginning with the assertion that forms of deceased or absent individuals have been witnessed by credible witnesses. Ferriar outlines his plans to dissect the reality of spectral visions by exploring the human sensory system, the influence of physiological states on perceptions, and historical cases of spectral sightings, including credible testimonies from antiquity and more recent sources. He aims to provide clarity on how these apparitions are often misinterpreted, suggesting that many instances can be attributed to illusions and delusions rather than supernatural causes. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Originally published: London: Cadell and Davies, 1813 Hallucinations and illusions Apparitions https://archive.org/details/essaytowardstheo00fer/page/n5/mode/2up https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/73761 114486 114486