Why Don't We Believe in ESP?

Can we move things with our minds? What about knowing what is happening at remote locations simply by thought? Is it possible to communicate with others telepathically? If we follow the teachings of millions of internet pages and television psychics, than we know that the answer is an automatic "yes". However, when we look deeper into the issue we find that there is actually much disagreement about ESP and other such phenomenon. To be fair though, often when matters such as ESP are brought up, they are simply laughed off without an explanation as to why. However, there are many reasons why scientists and those who study the brain do not believe in ESP, and it is good to be aware of these reasons the next time one is attempting to convince someone why they shouldn't spend their money on that telephone psychic.

However, before we get into why ESP is not a scientifically valid idea, it helps to know what exactly is meant when we refer to it. Extrasensory perception, commonly abbreviated as ESP, basically means exactly what it says. ESP refers to the ability of a person to use senses beyond the five we know for a variety of abilities. These abilities run the gamut from being able to see into the future or see other things going on at the same time. Other common ESP abilities include the ability to communicate with others simply by the use of one's mind, and still others feel that they are able to move objects or create physical effects with their extraordinary senses. Of course, ESP is also known by other names as well; including precognition, psi, anomalous cognition and psychokinesis. Whatever the name may be, the basic idea is the same, they all refer to a person using abilities outside the realm of normal senses to accomplish extraordinary feats or use extraordinary abilities.

Whatever we may call it, or whatever we may believe it is able to do, the reasons behind why many remain doubtful remain the same. Contrary to popular belief, there actually are reasons why many do not believe in the existence of ESP, and they are as follows.

Perhaps the single biggest reason that the scientific community denies the existence of ESP is the simple fact that it cannot be studied or reproduced. Even those who claim to have ESP mysteriously lose their abilities when brought into a laboratory or other testing setting. There is no widespread connection of these abilities, and all attempts to accurately study (yes those attempts actually have been made) have ended without even the chance to study ESP. Even when the barriers on what constitutes ESP are relaxed, and the testing settings made more informal, it has still proven impossible to get any real results or even a shred of conclusive proof. The fact that ESP has never been proven true, or has never been able to be reproduced or even scientifically examined is perhaps the largest reason for it's denial by a large portion of the world.

Another major reason for denial deals specifically with the human brain. Even though we do not understand all of the inner workings of the mind, each part of the brain and it's function is mapped out and known. Brain researchers can find no evidence of any part of the mind that is able to send or receive anything even close to ESP signals. This would mean, then, that either a hidden part of the brain exists, or an existing brain structure is able to perform this purpose. Both possibilities are virtually impossible, and thus we have one more reason why ESP is generally considered to be false.

A third reason, which ties in closely with the first reason, deals with the possible power of the ESP signals. It takes only common sense to realize that something with the massive energy potential of ESP would show up when measured, especially when we are talking about the ability to move options. Even when attempts to measure the signals have been made at "ESP Research Laboratories" across the world, no energy measurement of any kind has ever been recorded. So, we now have something which comes from a hidden or undiscovered part of the brain, and is resistant to any type of recording device known to man, the odds for ESP just get smaller and smaller the more rational thought that we put into the situation.

A fourth, and equally compelling reason actually deals more with attempts by some to prove that ESP is real. To introduce this, let us start with an example by the legendary Carl Sagan: If I were to tell you that I had an invisible dragon in my garage, it would be very difficult for you to prove me wrong. In fact, most ESP "proof" simply results from the fact that is has not been conclusively proven that it does not exist. Remember that failure to prove the non-existence of something is not enough to imply that it does exist. Most ESP tests that are designed to prove the phenomenon do not account for other possible explanations or reasons that could have caused whatever was shown in the tests.

Even though many are convinced that ESP does not exist, many are also unable to hold their own in a discussion against an ESP fanatic. Armed with the knowledge in this article, one now has the power to go out and have a reasonable discussion with those who do believe in the existence of extrasensory powers. For added fun, try adopting this formula of thinking to other phenomenon or unexplained events, you will find that the results are surprising.