Science and the Taboo of Psi
ABSTRACT
Do telepathy, clairvoyance and other “psi” abilities exist? The majority of the general population believes that they do, and yet fewer than one percent of mainstream academic institutions have any faculty known for their interest in these frequently reported experiences. Why is a topic of enduring and widespread interest met with such resounding silence in academia? The answer is not due to a lack of scientific evidence, or even to a lack of scientific interest, but rather involves a taboo. I will discuss the nature of this taboo, some of the empirical evidence and critical responses, and speculate on the implications.
Dean Radin is a researcher and author in the field of parapsychology. He is Senior Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences and four-time former President of the Parapsychological Association. He holds an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a masters degree in electrical engineering and a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has worked at AT&T Bell Labs and GTE Labs, mainly on human factors of advanced telecommunications products and services, and held appointments at Princeton University, Edinburgh University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, SRI International, Interval Research Corporation, and Boundary Institute. At these facilities he was engaged in basic research on exceptional human capacities, principally psi phenomena.
“Science and the Taboo of Psi” is a topic often explored by Dean Radin, a prominent parapsychologist and author known for his research on psychic phenomena and consciousness. Radin’s work challenges the mainstream scientific perspective that dismisses or ignores phenomena such as telepathy, precognition, and psychokinesis (often collectively referred to as psi) as pseudoscience or superstition.
In his book “The Conscious Universe” and other writings, Radin argues that psi phenomena are real and worthy of serious scientific investigation. He contends that empirical evidence from controlled laboratory experiments, meta-analyses, and observational studies supports the existence of psi, albeit in subtle and statistically small effects.
The “taboo” Radin refers to is the reluctance within the scientific establishment to openly acknowledge and investigate psi phenomena due to concerns about reputational damage, career implications, and ideological biases. Despite growing interest in consciousness studies and alternative approaches to science, psi research remains marginalized and often met with skepticism or outright rejection by many mainstream scientists.
Radin advocates for a more open-minded and inclusive approach to science that embraces the possibility of psi phenomena and encourages rigorous scientific inquiry into these topics. He believes that by applying the scientific method and advancing interdisciplinary research, we can gain a better understanding of consciousness, the nature of reality, and the potential of human abilities beyond conventional scientific explanations.
“Science and the Taboo of Psi” with Dean Radin likely involves discussions and presentations exploring the evidence for psi phenomena, the challenges faced by researchers in this field, and the broader implications for science, philosophy, and society. Radin’s work seeks to bridge the gap between mainstream science and parapsychology, fostering dialogue and collaboration among scientists interested in exploring the frontiers of human consciousness and potential.