Part 8/11:
He also discussed the unexplored phenomena related to the paranormal—telepathy, clairvoyance, ghosts—which have been widely reported across cultures and eras. Hitchens lamented that these reports—as real as any technological advance—are neglected by scientific inquiry because of cultural taboos and scientific hubris.
The Need for Humility in Scientific Inquiry
Despite his skepticism, Hitchens emphasized that the absence of current scientific explanations does not negate these phenomena's potential reality. He criticized the closing of institutions like Princeton's laboratory dedicated to studying the paranormal in 2007, which he believed reflected an unwarranted scientific arrogance—a refusal to study phenomena simply because they challenge prevailing paradigms.