Stargate Revisited with Edwin C. May

SUMMARY

Jeffrey Mishlove hosts Edwin C. May, PhD, as they delve into the history and intricacies of the military's psychic spying program, Stargate, examining its scientific methodologies and controversies. The discussion touches on May's skepticism regarding psychokinesis and highlights the global interest in remote viewing, especially in the context of Cold War-era intelligence efforts.

MAIN POINTS

• Jeffrey Mishlove introduces the topic of the Stargate program, a government effort in remote viewing for intelligence gathering. [1:09]
• Edwin C. May discusses his role as the scientific director and co-author of several books on remote viewing. [1:33]
• May challenges popular skepticism of ESP by citing the repeated interest from various intelligence agencies. [4:05]
• May describes his transition from consultant to senior research physicist and eventually to research director. [6:08]
• The program shifted towards a basic research charter under May, focusing on understanding how remote viewing works. [19:29]
• A scientific oversight committee was established to evaluate the program's methodologies and findings. [21:00]
• May's theoretical views have evolved, supporting the idea that all forms of psi can be reduced to precognition. [27:31]
• May expresses skepticism about the existence of psychokinesis due to a lack of convincing laboratory evidence. [34:12]
• Russian interest in psychokinesis as a military tool is discussed, highlighting their unsuccessful attempts. [41:03]
• May reflects on efforts to restart remote viewing programs and the challenges posed by political and management ridicule. [48:28]

DETAILED ANALYSIS

In an in-depth discussion with Jeffrey Mishlove, Edwin C. May, PhD, revisits the controversial military intelligence program known as Stargate. Focusing on remote viewing, the program aimed to harness extrasensory perception (ESP) for intelligence gathering.

May, who was the scientific director during its final decade, provides insights into the structure and oversight of the program, revealing how it managed to sustain interest from a variety of U.S. government agencies, despite widespread skepticism about ESP.

The conversation delves into the challenges faced by the Stargate program, particularly around its scientific credibility. May recounts how the program's research was scrutinized by a high-level scientific oversight committee, which included notable skeptics. This committee was responsible for evaluating the program's protocols and findings, and while they recognized the scientific rigor of the research, only half were convinced of its potential.

May also reflects on his skepticism regarding psychokinesis, a phenomenon often associated with the broader field of parapsychology. Despite initial research efforts, May concluded that the costs and technical challenges of proving such phenomena were prohibitive. He contrasts this with the Russian focus on psychokinetic weapons, which ultimately failed to produce tangible results.

Throughout the discussion, May emphasizes the political and bureaucratic hurdles that the Stargate program faced. He recounts how the program was protected by political allies, yet ultimately succumbed to political pressures and ridicule, which hindered any potential revival. This narrative sheds light on the complexities of managing parapsychological research within a government framework, highlighting both the intrigue and controversy that continue to surround the legacy of the Stargate program.

Concluding the discussion, May remains open to the possibility of unknown phenomena, acknowledging the potential for future discoveries in the field of parapsychology. Despite the skepticism and challenges, the conversation underscores the enduring interest and debate surrounding the applications of psychic research in intelligence and beyond.

LINKS

• The Stargate Archives edited by Edwin C. May
• Anomalous Cognition edited by Edwin C. May
• Extrasensory Perception edited by Edwin C. May
• Jeffrey Mishlove's Grand Prize essay in the Bigelow Institute competition
• How to Get the Most From New Thinking Allowed
• Complete, updated list with links to all of New Thinking Allowed videos

KEYWORDS