The crux of the thesis developed in this essay is extensible to most aspects of the behavioral sciences and the research practices they implement in order to generate their generalizations and specifications regarding human behavior and how it can be manipulated. Essentially, what is argued here comes down to the following: Every time we answer a survey or participate in qualitative interviews where we assume the role of a subject, from whom information is extracted during the course of the ensuing dialogue, we are contributing to the development of techniques, qualifying as social engineering technologies; or, as Foucault would have it, Biopower. In other words, we are aiding the very people who are involved - although, in most occasions, unwittingly- in fostering the technologies required to regulate the existing social structure by forging interdictive techniques utilized for purposes of restoring behaviors that are in sycn with the way things stand currently; a state of affairs that relatively few of us have a stake in preserving. With that said, the following essay is, for all practical purposes, a summation of some of the insights offered by Foucualt’s geneology and the understanding of power he develops in opposition to its preemptive understanding, as it has assumed form in the more conventional sociological ideology introduced by Weber.

I believe the best way of revolting against the sexual identities that have been implanted into our bodies, such as homosexual, heterosexual and so forth, by the various medical community disciplines, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, demographers, and sociologists of the family, is to stop talking about sex as if it is a behavior serving as an indicator of some underlying psychic condition that, in turn, marks some deep and character defining identity; subsequently, coming to dominate the way we think about ourselves as well as the way - and these two dynamics are, of course, related to one another - others perceive us. All of this creates the context in which our actions; our abilities and penchants; our propensities; are interpreted. Consequentially, the ongoing undergoing of disciplinary treatment results in a condition where we come to defined ourselves in a modality that reflects the dispositions deposited in the discourse of disciplinarian institutions, which span through out all spheres of Modern society.

Essentially, what we can learn from Foucault - and what might be the most significant insight provided by Foucault - is the discourse we engage in regarding sex and the behaviors that we attempt to come to terms with by emitting descriptions of ourselves - consisting mostly of our private urges - and the associated behaviors and experiences that we have been taught to consider relevant to our sexual demeanors are not contributing to our sexual liberation; rather, the act of divulging intimacies of our selves, serves merely to proliferate the knowledge of disciplinarians who devise technologies - usually guised in the form of health-care - used to classify us and define us, as well as, to identify what courses of intervention enacted upon us can be used to normalize our conduct in society, so our existences conform to the established behavioral protocol, dictating the appropriate way for us to act.

If we attempt to reduce the ideology of which the preponderance of practitioners embody when correcting the social behaviors of those deemed to possess pathological perversions, we can probably use the following characterization quite felicitously: Individuals should be productive members of society, which entails working; sometimes having a family, according to the definition of a healthy family life developed by disciplinarians; we should avoid circumstances where we become dependencies of the state, such as welfare recipients; we should be prone to avoid criminal conduct; ect.; all of which can be understood - within the context of disciplinarian praxes - as the production of productive citizens.

However, such an existential transformation of our Selves into the standardized forms endorsed and implemented by disciplinarians, is by no means constitutive of a promotion of our own interests. Instead, we are simply re-tailored to conform with the expectations that have been developed and naturalized - into the realm of social knowledge that is taken-for-granted and rarely questioned - concerning the proper comportment of individuals belonging to society, which does not necessarily account for our own exploitations within the systemization of social relations comprising the society to which we contribute through our labors, (a term that expands to include most every aspect of our material beings; even child rearing and raising).

By means of our externalized expressions pertaining to, as subject matter, own behaviors and fetishes within the contours of the probing procedures that have been developed by practitioners of the behavioral sciences, we - inadvertently - contribute to our own regulation; a condition fostered by our own cooperation in the disciplinarian knowledge construction practices of those who make it their business to modify and, ‘correct,’ as well as appropriate the way we conduct our own businesses. In short, this compulsion to reveal the intimacies our of the private lives - a propensity that is undoubtedly, according to Foucault, a vestige of our Christian confessional tradition - is by no means an expression of a liberationist ideology; instead, it is symptomatic of our own cultural conditioning, which render us amenable to our own training by others; disciplinarians who seek to produce productive citizens.

Let us, after decades of subjugation by disciplinarian regimes such as psychology, acknowledge that sex is not the manifestation of a drive emanating from the invisible posit referred to as the psyche; rather, let us accept that the uses of our bodies to incite pleasures reflective of purely hedonistic calculations. There is no hidden logic to our sexual activities that needs to be teased out of us and rendered a spectacle for the appropriate quasi-health-care, behavioral specialists, who might treat us in order to correct what deviates from the established and entrenched normativity, which is associated in almost all respects to the Modern advent of Sexuality. How we should act as mothers and fathers - how we should conduct our sexual activities; not asking for compensation; nor providing compensation - the appropriate age we should be prior to inciting certain pleasures of the body through our own device or the devices of others - what sex should symbolically represent; and what it should not - and how much of our interests and pursuits should be driven by our sexual appetites - are all matters we can answer for ourselves without the interdiction of behavioral scientists, who implicitly premise all of their conclusions upon normative assumptions that represent values belonging to a social order to which they attempt to integrate the human objects of their practices.

However, to conclude that our indoctrination into the preemptive order of things is in our own interests speaks more of the interests that are vested in the way things stand now: An order that exploits some for the profit of others; an order that thrives off of the replication of the values with which we have been implanted - in order to be disposed toward a deferential posture in relation to the extant social structure - and those we are expected to instill in our children, in order to ensure progeny that will assume the same deferential attitude toward the complex of stratifications that organize our labors into a system of material production that benefit some while depriving others. Further this is a social structure that systematically identifies those who deviate from its prescriptions defining, ‘healthy behaviors;’ subsequently, labeling non-conformists with the encumbering baggage of social identities that are negatively interpreted and valued, according to the cultural codes that guide disciplinarians as they strive to identify social pathologies worthy of interdiction. This social intervention occurs in manifold forms, of which some salient examples come to mind: The dosing of children with Ritalin in order to adjust their modify and control their behaviors; The incursions made by social workers into the family affairs to private individuals, enforcing protocols for appropriate family interactions that the social workers deem as the, ‘Right,’ way to act. The positioning of these disciplinarian institutions in civil society makes them all the more deleterious to our personal sovereignty, because they fall outside the scope of our avenues for participating in policy formation; even though the activities conducted by the tribes of disciplinarians certainly have political consequences.

Therefore, there is nothing Authentic - a term meant to entail the connotative properties with which Heidegger endowed it - resulting from our introspective examinations of Self, in order to supply the data that become the property of behavioral scientists; to those who correct us and makes us conforming and docile; to those who make us deferential to the exploitation of our very selves.

Russell Cole

Tags: foucault, higher consciousness, labor, Modernity, psychology, sexaulity, workplace
Categories: Commentary
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by Steve Hammons
The emerging awareness in many segments of society about what is sometimes called “anomalous cognition” is an interesting development that seems to hold much promise. In fact, knowledge about this topic seems to be spreading throughout the U.S. and around the world.

Anomalous cognition is a term that refers to various kinds of human perception which can be highly effective and useful in a wide range of endeavors and activities.

Included under this umbrella term are several human perceptual abilities and skills. These include, but are not limited to:

- Enhanced intuition and instincts

- Increased awareness of one’s surroundings and environment

- Improved insight into challenges and solutions

- Acquisition of information and understanding about remote situations

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines “anomalous” as “inconsistent with or deviating from what is usual, normal, or expected – irregular, unusual – of uncertain nature or classification marked by incongruity or contradiction – paradoxical.” “Cognition” is defined as “to become acquainted with, know – to come to know – cognitive mental processes – a product of these processes.” We may soon need to change the word “anomalous” when referring to enhanced human intelligence of this kind, because it may no longer be “unusual.”

It may become very normal and routine for all of us. In fact, it may be very useful to expand communication and education about research findings in this area as far and wide as possible, and in a timely manner.

RECENT AND CURRENT RESEARCH

Advanced research sponsored by our military and intelligence community, as well as universities and private research entities, has discovered that many, most or all people have the ability to use their “cognition,” their mind and awareness, to perceive and understand things in a much more interesting way than previously recognized.

At the same time, average people around the world are doing their own research because each of us has the working tools to investigate anomalous cognition: Our brains, minds, bodies, and, some say, our hearts, spirits and souls. The technique called “remote viewing” is one of the most common examples.

Remote viewing is a concept jointly developed by the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the CIA and private sector researchers during the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Remote viewing is a particular set of methods that allow individuals to tap into enhanced and advanced perception. This has proven to be a useful intelligence-gathering tool. Other applications have also been researched. Anomalous cognition and remote viewing can provide insight about our daily thoughts and feelings as well as previously unknown information – even information that provides insight about situations that are outside of normal understanding about time and space.

It is believed that the nature of quantum physics is such that, in some ways, things like anomalous cognition and remote viewing make perfect sense. They are normal and natural. They are part of Nature. Many average people now read books, take classes and watch video presentations about remote viewing. And, many people find that their intuition, dreams and sensitivity to information bubbling up from their unconscious can be very valuable and helpful.

Professional research into these kinds of human abilities and perception is very useful and seems to dovetail with other accepted aspects of psychology studies. As in some conventional psychology theories, our unconscious mind is believed to be a great problem solver, when given the opportunity. In addition, our individual minds may be connected to a larger unified consciousness.

Some people theorize that there is a “higher consciousness” with profound spiritual and religious implications. Remote viewing techniques also recognize that one element of success in these efforts is allowing the unconscious mind to work. Then, information from the unconscious is allowed to surface consciously where it can be accurately interpreted and applied to practical matters. This, of course, is what many modern researchers have tried to establish: That clear evidence can be demonstrated indicating anomalous cognition of various kinds can provide accurate and useful information and insight. Have they established this? It seems that they have.

ADVANCED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT OR ANCIENT AWARENESS?

Some people learning about these kinds of human abilities might naturally wonder if they reflect advances in the ongoing development of the human brain. Are they new potentials that the human race is now experiencing as we evolve into more advanced creatures. This is one line of thinking. Another view is that these perceptual abilities are old, ancient, and go back into prehistory.

Maybe there is some combination of both aspects. Many ancient human cultures put great value on dreams, intuition, visions, signs, prophesies, spiritual quests and different kinds of awareness. Native American cultures are good examples. They found these types of experiences to be very valid perceptions about reality. Ancient humans may have relied on intuition, internal perception and instincts much more than we do today. As our conscious, logical and intellectual minds have developed, maybe our other awareness skills and internal intelligence declined and atrophied. Some people theorize that animals may have anomalous cognition abilities that are superior to that of humans in many ways.

So, perhaps these skills are not a new development at all, but, rather, the rediscovery and re-emergence of established and fundamental types of human intelligence.

Our instinct that danger is near, our feeling that we should contact someone or our sense that we should do something in particular, are situations that we sometimes experience. These perceptions may have a basis in valid and accurate anomalous cognition. Likewise, we all experience dreams. Dreams, like other kinds of anomalous cognition and remote viewing, also involve the unconscious mind’s ability to provide valuable information.

WWII U.S. NAVY SUB AND CREW SAVED BY DREAM?

As important as, or more important than, the value people place on these kinds of perceptions are reports about how accurate and how useful these perceptions can be. In other words, believing that unusual perception has value is one thing. Actually demonstrating that highly useful information or insight can come from unconventional perception or dreams is another. There are many examples of interesting and even amazing results from things like anomalous cognition, remote viewing, intuition, visions and dreams.

While living in San Diego many years ago, I worked with a retired U.S. Navy master chief who had served for 25 years or more. Most of his Navy career was in the submarine service.

One day he brought up a story from his dad’s Navy service on a submarine in the Pacific during WWII. According to the master chief’s father, during combat operations between the U.S. and Japan, his sub experienced a mechanical problem and was forced to surface near a sand bar and in plain view of any Japanese planes that might happen to fly over the area.

In such a position, if the sub was spotted, they would be very vulnerable to destruction and/or capture. As a result, efforts to diagnose and repair the mechanical problem were extremely urgent and a life-or-death matter for the officers and crew.

The master chief’s dad had some key duties and responsibilities involving the engineering and mechanical operation of the sub.

He and other crew members explored many possible reasons for the sub’s mechanical problem and tried several solutions, but none worked and they remained surfaced and in danger.

More than one day passed and they knew that it was crucial to figure out the problem and get it fixed. They worked non-stop, only interrupting their work when necessary and to eat and sleep. While sleeping, the master chief’s dad had a dream. He had a dream about what the problem with the sub was.

When he awoke, he located the part of the mechanical workings the sub that he had dreamed about and went to work. The problem turned out to be exactly what he had dreamed. He and his fellow crew members rapidly completed repairs and the sub was safely underway shortly after. His dream may have saved the sub and its crew from death or a terrible fate.

FUTURE PERCEPTION

This is the kind of real-life application of enhanced and unconventional perception that is receiving such interest now.

Even law enforcement agencies are looking into training detectives and others in taking their “cop instincts” to the next level to help solve crimes and rescue victims.

And our intelligence community, despite overtly shutting down the “Project STARGATE” remote viewing program back in the 1990s, most likely is continuing research and operations using these skills in current challenges.

Our military and special operations forces reportedly have been exposed to some measure of orientation and training in these abilities as well. Undoubtedly, these skills can also be helpful for them.

Now, our task might be to more fully understand how to share these findings with people in all walks of life and of all ages.

after all, schools of the future may teach students about the remarkable abilities of perception we all can tap into in order to succeed in attaining knowledge and understanding.

That knowledge and understanding might be very useful in ongoing human development and in achieving a very bright future for all of us, our children and future generations.

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Steve Hammons has worked as a journalist, editor, counselor, juvenile probation peace officer, public safety urgent-response specialist, teacher, instructor and US Government researcher. He graduated from Ohio University with studies in communications/journalism, health education/psychology and pre-law. Hammons’s two novels tell the story of a US joint-service military and intelligence research team investigating emerging special topics. Visit the novels’ home page at: www.navyseals.com/community/members/ohio52.

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Tags: anomalous cognition, awareness, higher consciousness, human development, human perception, military, perception, quantum physics, society
Categories: Commentary, Society
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