The results of a competition for the best essay on the evidence for the existence of an afterlife.
Announcement BICS EssayContest November 1, 2021
| 1st Prize | Jeffrey Mishlove Ph.D. | $500,000 |
| 2nd Prize | Pim van Lommel M.D. | $300,000 |
| 3rd Prize | Leo Ruickbie Ph.D. | $150,000 |
| Michael Tymn | $ 50,000 | |
| Stephen Braude Ph.D. | $ 50,000 | |
| Nicolas Rouleau Ph.D. | $ 50,000 | |
| Bernardo Kastrup Ph.D. | $ 50,000 | |
| Elizabeth Krohn | $ 50,000 | |
| Sharon Rawlette Ph.D. | $ 50,000 | |
| Jeffrey Long M.D. | $ 50,000 | |
| Michael Nahm Ph.D. | $ 50,000 | |
| Julie Beischel Ph.D. | $ 50,000 | |
| Alexandre Rocha Ph.D. et al. | $ 50,000 | |
| David Rousseau Ph.D. et al. | $ 50,000 | |
| Robert Mays et al | $ 20,000 | |
| Chris Carter | $ 20,000 | |
| Steve Taylor Ph.D. | $ 20,000 | |
| Christopher Kerr M.D., Ph.D. | $ 20,000 | |
| Bruce Leininger | $ 20,000 | |
| Vernon Neppe M.D., Ph.D. | $ 20,000 | |
| Helane Wahbeh N.D. et al. | $ 20,000 | |
| Chris Roe Ph.D. et al | $ 20,000 | |
| Peter Fenwick M.D. et al | $ 20,000 | |
| Walter Meyer zu Erpen | $ 20,000 | |
| Akila Weerasekera Ph.D. | $ 20,000 | |
| Greg Taylor | $ 20,000 | |
| Nick Cook | $ 20,000 | |
| Andreas Sommer Ph.D. | $ 20,000 | |
| Sam Parnia M.D. Ph.D. et al | $ 20,000 |
I don't know why in our culture there is this obsessive focus on evidence. We live in a science obsessed culture that doesn't seem to understand that evidence is often viewed through the lens of certain metaphysical suppositions about the world, and certainly this is the case with the question of whether there is an afterlife.
The sticking point for acceptance of an afterlife is the widespread belief that an afterlife is an extraordinary claim. Just looking at the evidence does nothing to address this. In particular, people are convinced that the fact a damaged brain leads to a damaged mind entails that the brain must somehow produce the mind.
So the philosophical considerations are crucial. It doesn't seem that these people understand this though.
I also note that most of these people that have won a prize I've heard of, and most have a Ph.D after their name. If they really were looking for the best essay, it seems kind of coincidental that all these people are already renowned for writing about this sort of stuff. Which suggests that whether or not you win a prize is more dependent on who you are than how impressive the essay is.
My other blog has many essays addressing the philosophical issues.
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