Seeker to Seeker: Edward Kelly

Professor Edward Kelly is a research professor at the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia. A Ph.D. in Cognitive Sciences, Professor Kelly's research explores mind-brain issues with a focus on psi phenomena that challenge the current neuroscientific view of the mind.

Ed Kelly has published peer-works in which he argues for a break from the physicalist view of the mind, drawing upon empirical evidence such as near-death experience, stigmata and mystical experience. He has been main editor of the books Irreducible Mind, Beyond Physicalism, and Consciousness Unbound.

In our conversation, I spoke with Ed about the insights he’s gained from decades of being at the cutting edge of psi research. We discussed the nature of consciousness, the mind-matter duality, the various models of post-mortem survival and the paradigm shift that is approaching the scientific community.

We also spoke about the difficulties of sticking out too much in the scientific community and how studying the human spirit has transformed Professor Kelly’s personal life.

Dr Edward Kelly is a researcher and author who spent a career exploring the mysteries of consciousness. For him, the evidence is overwhelming: The materialistic worldview, now called physicalism, falls short.
Consciousness is more than a product of brain activity, but most importantly, consciousness survives physical death.

Contents:

00:00:19 Introduction of Dr. Ed Kelly
00:06:42 Enthusiasm and endeavors 100 years ago
00:11:09 Did you have any remarkable results through all the years?
00:15:15 What got you involved with parapsychology in the first place?
00:17:36 Where are we in consciousness research today?
00:24:43 Reactions to publications
00:29:02 How do you think we're going to look back at today's naturalistic physicalistic view of the world or of the origin of consciousness in 100 years’ time?
00:31:54 What does it mean to explain something in idealistic terms or idealism?
00:34:58 What kind of a view of reality of the human being have you developed?
00:37:27 What do you think, what is consciousness, where does consciousness then come from if physicalism is wrong?
00:39:46 Do you think you've gathered enough evidence for the survival of consciousness after death?
00:41:38 So you would say apparitions, it's scientifically solid to say that they do happen?
00:44:06 Ian Stevenson
00:46:38 What about the mystical experiences?
00:54:22 When you read these reports like about Padre Pio, do you think they have validity?
00:56:13 What's your view on the on the beyond, the afterlife?
00:57:19 Do you think there is some kind of a connection to our inner life, of our thoughts, imaginations, dreams, aspirations?
00:58:27 What does the future hold for you? And for DoPS?

Edward Kelly is a neuroscientist whose research overturns the current popular definition of the mind. We had a fantastic conversation about his non-traditional path in scientific research. He is a scientist at the University of Virginia.