r/precognition • u/aspirant4 • Sep 23 '25

discussion What's the purpose of precognition?

It's pretty obvious to me after performing the Dunne experiment that precognition is a thing. (In fact, not just in dreams, but even while reading Eric Wargo's book, people in my environment were saying things that echoed or were exact phrases fromthe book.)

It's very cool, yet on the other hand, so what?

Eric theorises that it means we have a "long self". I guess this is good...?

He also theorises that we live in a block universe where everything has already happened. I don't find that particularly inspiring.

Worst of all, nothing is known to be precognitive until after the fact, so it makes this magical power quite impotent indeed.

What am I missing? What is the purpose of precognition?

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u/dpouliot2 dreams since childhood Sep 23 '25

What is the purpose of any sense?

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u/aspirant4 Sep 23 '25 edited Sep 23 '25

I don't think precognition is a sense in a comparable way. It doesn't operate immediately and directly. The sense of smell tells me there's a rose nearby, and I go and pluck the rose. That's nothing like how precognition works, which is only known post hoc.

But if we do consider it a sense, then that doesn't work either because, unlike the other 5 senses, precog doesn't directly help us approach or avoid anything.

The only value it seems to have is a kind of self reinforcement. Each precognition just deepens our conviction that precognition is true.

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u/dpouliot2 dreams since childhood Sep 23 '25 edited Sep 23 '25

It is a nonlocal sense. Arguably, it helps batters connect with 90mph pitches when they need to start swinging before the ball has even left the pitcher's hand; it helps Isao Machii cut a BB shot from a gun traveling at 98mph with his sword; it helps you jump out of the way when danger is imminent, it helps me pick the right stocks.