Paul Giamatti’s CHINWAG with Stephen Asma
PHONE CALLS FROM THE DEAD!
Aug 30, 2023
Discover the mysterious world of Thomas Edison's spirit phone and his quest to prove life after death. Dive into ghostly human voice recordings from the 1840s and explore the use of electronic devices to communicate with the dead. Reflect on the mysteries of the universe and the limited knowledge humans possess. Plus, enjoy a bonus visit from William Shatner discussing ghosts and paranormal activity.
35:44
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Quick takeaways
- Thomas Edison proposed the idea of building a spirit phone to contact the dead, reflecting a broader fascination with the possibility of life after death and consciousness beyond the physical body.
- Exploring devices like spirit boxes and EVP points to a resurgence of interest in spirit communication, indicating a continued curiosity about life after death and the potential for communication with spirits.
Deep dives
Thomas Edison's proposed invention of a spirit phone
Thomas Edison, the famous inventor, proposed the idea of building a communication device to aid psychical researchers in seeking proof of life after death. He believed that our subconscious minds may allow us to imagine communications from another world, and he wanted to explore the possibility of using technology to contact spirits. However, there is no evidence that Edison ever followed up on this idea, as there are no extant notes, plans, or equipment related to the proposed spirit phone.
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