---
born: 1842-01-11
category: Psychics & Remote Viewers
died: 1910-08-26
location: New York City, New York
summary: James was also deeply interested in psychic phenomena and was one of the
  founders of the American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR) in 1885.
tags:
- Person
- RemoteViewer
---

[William James](/people/william-james/) was a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher, often referred to as the "Father of American psychology." He was a leading thinker of the late 19th century and a key figure in the development of pragmatism.[^1]

James was also deeply interested in psychic phenomena and was one of the founders of the [American Society for Psychical Research](/organizations/american-society-for-psychical-research/) (ASPR) in 1885. He believed that the scientific study of such phenomena was crucial for a complete understanding of human consciousness and the nature of reality.[^1]

[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017.