<< Unlikely as it might seem in the cold light of day, ghosts and hauntings are a mainstream area of belief. Recent studies by YouGov in the UK and the USA show that between 30% and 50% of the population says they believe in ghosts. Belief in ghosts also appears to be global, with most (if not all) cultures around the world having some widely accepted kind of ghosts. >>
<< The existence of a ghost as an incorporeal (bodyless) soul or spirit of a dead person or animal is contrary to the laws of nature as we understand them, so it seems there is something here that calls for explanation. We can look at the worlds of literature, philosophy and anthropology for some of the reasons why people are so keen to believe. >>
<< According to the Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza, belief comes quickly and naturally, whereas scepticism is slow and unnatural. In a study of neural activity, Harris and colleagues discovered that believing a statement requires less effort than disbelieving it. >>
<< Given these multiple reasons for us to believe in ghosts, it seems that the belief is likely to be with us for many years to come. >>
Anna Stone. ‘I see dead people’: why so many of us believe in ghosts.
Oct 30, 2020.
Also
keyword 'paranormal belief' in PubMed
keyword 'fantasmi' in Notes (quasi-stochastic poetry)
