Precognition
Encyclopedia : P : PR : PRE : Precognition
- For other uses, see (disambiguation)}}}.
There is disagreement within parapsychology as to the existence of precognition and the validity or interpretation of precognition related experiments.
History
Throughout history people have claimed to have precognitive abilities, and the "gift of prophecy" is a common feature of most religions. Just as prevalent are anecdotal accounts of precognitions from the general public, such as someone "knowing" who is on the other end of a ringing telephone before they answer it, or having a dream of unusual clarity with elements of content that later turn out to be events that actually occur. The French term, déjà vu, meaning "already seen" was coined by French psychic researcher, Emile Boirac to describe the often eerie sensation, and its companion term, "future memory", was coined by American Near-death experience researcher PMH Atwater in her 1996 book by the same title. While anecdotal accounts do not provide scientific proof of precognition, such common experiences motivate continued research.
Experimental research of precognition began at least as early as the work of J. B. Rhine, and eventually came to be his preferred mode of conducting his tests. This was a variation of his famous card-guessing experiments in which the participant was asked to record his guess of the entire order of a card deck before the deck was shuffled. Precognitive experiments have since been studied in a variety of formats by various parapsychologists, for example by the remote viewing researchers, and at the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research Lab (PEAR).
Precognition in fiction
- A precog is a shorthand for a fictional precognitive, who has an ability to foresee future happenings, or it may refer to the precognitive vision itself. It is often featured in the stories by Philip K. Dick such as Minority Report.
- Jedi Knights, depending on their knowledge of the "force", often have precognition talents which lead to them to demonstrate adroit-reactions and dexterity, as they see physical changes in their environment before they happen and can anticipate them. Luke Skywalker sees his friends suffering and Yoda tells him 'It is the future you see'. Precognition is also used in battle when Jedi use their lightsabers to deflect blaster bolts, often back to the person who fired them.
- Spider-Man's "spider-sense" is a limited precognitive sense.
- Destiny of the X-Men comics series has a precognitive sense.
- It appears briefly in White Palace, but is not a major plot element.
- Rei Hino of Sailor Moon had Precognitve sense due to her miko powers.
- Maia Rutledge a child featured in the 4400 was sent back from the future with precognitive abilities, and is commonly referred to as a precog by other characters.
- Johnny Smith of The Dead Zone has been gifted (or cursed) with precognition.
- Precognition is also used to rule humanity in Frank Herbert's Dune series.
- Radar O'Reilly of the TV show M*A*S*H could always anticipate his commanding officer's requests, often walking in just before called, with the documents required already in hand. He was always aware of when the Choppers were approaching.
- Milo, a character in Dan Abnett's Ghaunt's Ghost series had similar abilities to predict incoming artillery barrages and superior officer's requests
- Joanna Star, a magically transgendered cheerleader from The Wotch and [[The Wotch: Cheer!]], seems to have psychic/pregognitive abilities.
- Stephen King, uses precognition in some of his novels, most notably The Shining and The Dead Zone.
- In Stargate SG-1, the DNA Resequencer gave Jonas Quinn precognition.
- In The Matrix, the Oracle and later Neo both appear to have precognitive abilities. The exact nature of these abilities is questioned multiple times, but never fully explained.
- In Supernatural, the TV Series, Sam has visions in the episode 'Nightmare.' At first he dreams of future events, then he has visions whilst awake. Towards the end of the episode he also discovers he has Telekinesis, and after seeing a vision of his brother being killed, he instinctively moves a large dresser out the way when trapped in a closet, and promptly goes off to save his brother's life.
- In The Power of Five by Anthony Horowitz,the fisst of the five, Matt, could see into the future, but all his were are disasters.
- In Final Destination, the character Alex has the ability to see disastrous events before they happen, particularily dealing with death of himself and people he knows.
References
- [Evidence for an anomalous anticipatory effect in the autonomic nervous system (PDF)], Dean Radin, Boundary Institute, 1999.
- [Evidence for a retrocausal effect in the human nervous system (PDF)], Dean Radin & Edwin May, Boundary Institute, 1999.
- [Time-reversed human experience: Experimental evidence and implications (PDF)], Dean Radin, Boundary Institute, 2000.
- The Conscious Universe, by Dean Radin, Harper Collins, 1997, ISBN 0062515020.
- Future Memory, by PMH Atwater, Hampton Roads, 1999, ISBN 1571741356.
See also
- Premonition
- Anomalous cognition
- Déjà vu
- Time travel
- Pseudoscience
- Global Consciousness Project
- James Randi's $1,000,000 Challenge
- List of spirituality-related topics
External links
- [The Best Case for ESP?]
- [Failed Psychic Predictions for 1998]
- [Elizabeth Coyle] Seer, graduate of Harvard Divinity School, abilities recognized by the Catholic church as 'Gifts of the Spirit.'
- [link]site recounts experiences of precognitive psychic during his life as well as past and future lives
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