What Is PSI

"psi A letter of the Greek alphabet (ψ) used as a neutral term for all ESP-type and psychokinetic phenomena."

- What is PSI?, Chapter 1, The Conscious Universe by Dean Radin.

[Laird]

I'll have a go at a definition of psi - an interaction between a mind and its environment for which currently accepted physical laws provide no mechanism.

Saw the OP, put together a rough definition in my head, then read through the rest of the thread and... whaddayaknow, Chris has once again succinctly preempted me.

But then again, my definition would probably rule out synchronicity. Maybe that should be included, but it's difficult to extend the definition without including a lot of other stuff as well. Perhaps the Global Consciousness Project could be seen as a manifestation of synchronicity rather than an interaction of mind and environment.

[Laird]

But then again, my definition would probably rule out synchronicity. Maybe that should be included

Personally, I don't think it should. But I'm no expert on these matters, so that's purely the opinion of a dilettante who sometimes digs a little deeper into a paper or two.

I see synchronicity as more of a "spiritual"/"metaphysical" phenomenon than one of mind interacting with matter. As you say, though, some phenomena can potentially be explained/described in different terms, so judgement is required, and mistakes might be made.

Personally, I don't think it should. But I'm no expert on these matters, so that's purely the opinion of a dilettante who sometimes digs a little deeper into a paper or two.

I see synchronicity as more of a "spiritual"/"metaphysical" phenomenon than one of mind interacting with matter. As you say, though, some phenomena can potentially be explained/described in different terms, so judgement is required, and mistakes might be made.

It's an interesting thought. Suppose that in the GCP the random number generators had been found to be correlating inexplicably with one another all the time, not just during "global events". But as that's not the case, perhaps it's inappropriate to speculate too much about it.

[Laird]

It's an interesting thought. Suppose that in the GCP the random number generators had been found to be correlating inexplicably with one another all the time, not just during "global events". But as that's not the case, perhaps it's inappropriate to speculate too much about it.

Right - or even not all the time but just at "random" times, meaning times that had no obvious significance (neither the experimenter predicted them nor was there a "global event"). This seems to be how human synchronicities work - nobody can predict when a synchronicity will occur; they are in this sense "random".

We often times here people on the forum say -- that's not PSI! Or how does that relate to PSI?

Well. What is PSI?

It stands for pounds per square inch.

[Laird]

It stands for pounds per square inch.

Dude. Pssst beat you to it hours (a day?) ago. Did you even read the thread?

Dude. Pssst beat you to it hours (a day?) ago. Did you even read the thread?

No. It was an impulse post.

That's a great question chuck.

How do we decide what is psi, a close relative, a cousin, or a distant relative. And what should be included as suitable topics. Why some individuals should be offended if certain subjects are included and 'threaten to leave' if they are, just annoys the shit out of me. 

This post is very childish Stan.