The New Inquisition

The New Inquisition (ISBN 1-56184-002-5) is a book written by Robert Anton Wilson and first published in 1986. The New Inquisition is a book about ontology, science, paranormal events, and epistemology. Wilson identifies what he calls "Fundamental Materialism" belief and compares it to religious fundamentalism. In The New Inquisition Wilson criticises scientists. It is intended to be deliberately shocking, Wilson states that he "does not want its... more

The New Inquisition (ISBN 1-56184-002-5) is a book written by Robert Anton Wilson and first published in 1986. The New Inquisition is a book about ontology, science, paranormal events, and epistemology. Wilson identifies what he calls "Fundamental Materialism" belief and compares it to religious fundamentalism. In The New Inquisition Wilson criticises scientists. It is intended to be deliberately shocking, Wilson states that he "does not want its ideas to seem any less startling than they are." The book's subtitle Irrational Rationalism and Citadel of Science, summarizes its topics; The New Inquisition is the author's term for what he refers to as a tendency within mainstream science to forbid certain forms of theories from being classed as "science." He cites the cases of Wilhelm Reich, Rupert Sheldrake, and the Mars effect controversy, among others, in support of a central claim that a materialist bias within the scientific community has led to some speculations and theories he... less