How Michael Faraday used science to debunk the Victorian obsession with ghosts

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1853, Victorian society was gripped by the popularity of séances and reports of moving furniture. While many believed these phenomena were evidence of the spirit world, Michael Faraday suspected a more earthly cause. He devised an ingenious experiment to test whether supernatural forces were truly at play.

By the mid-19th century, the practice of holding séances had become a widespread cultural phenomenon. Participants frequently claimed to witness mysterious events, such as furniture moving on its own, which they attributed to communication with the dead. Faraday, a prominent scientist, sought to apply rigorous investigation to these claims, aiming to determine if these occurrences were genuinely supernatural or the result of human influence.

Faraday's approach to the supernatural was rooted in the same analytical mindset he applied to his groundbreaking work in physics. Decades earlier, in 1831, he had discovered electromagnetic induction by observing how changing magnetic fields could induce current in nearby circuits. His experimental setup involved two coils of wire wound around an iron ring; he noted that a compass needle would deflect only when the magnetic field was expanding or collapsing, rather than when it remained steady.

This focus on the mechanics of change and physical interaction informed his skepticism toward spiritualist claims. Just as he demonstrated that an electromotive force required a changing magnetic field to manifest, he looked for the physical, often unconscious, human actions that might explain the movement of objects during séances. By applying the scientific method to the occult, Faraday provided a rational framework to challenge the era's fascination with the paranormal, demonstrating that even the most mysterious phenomena often have a measurable, physical explanation.

The legacy of this investigation highlights the importance of empirical testing in the face of widespread belief. Faraday's work serves as a reminder that scientific inquiry is the most effective tool for distinguishing between genuine discovery and the illusions of the mind. By treating the supernatural as a subject for experimental verification, he helped steer Victorian intellectual life toward a more evidence-based understanding of the world.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Why the pursuit of pure science is a necessity, not a luxury
• How Michael Faraday's 1831 experiment powers our modern electrical world today
• A bookbinder's apprentice with barely any algebra reshaped the science of electricity
• For centuries, humanity viewed electricity and magnetism as entirely unrelated, mysterious natural phenomena.
• The scientific attempt to neutralize a haunted house with electromagnetic radiation
• Why the act of observing the world might physically change what you are measuring
• Transform your kitchen into a laboratory to extract the genetic blueprint of a kiwi
• The impossible particle that saved the laws of physics
• Why science seeks to disprove itself while pseudoscience seeks only to confirm
• Why every 'scientific study' headline might be misleading you
• Why scientists who claim philosophy is dead are still practicing it
• Does time actually flow, or is our perception of the present just an illusion?

More in Philosophy of science · More in Ideas & Philosophy · Latest · A–Z · All topics