Noetics

Term used by scientific writer Charles A. Musès and others to denote the science of consciousness and its alterations. He noted in 1977, "Noetics is concerned with the nature, alterations and potentials of consciousness, and especially human consciousness." (This parapsychological use of "noetic" is, of course, distinct from its prior use as a synonym for "noachian," meaning pertaining to Noah and his period.)

An earlier use of the word noetic in relation to states of consciousness was in the article "Psychic and Noetic Action" by Theosophist Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831-1891), originally published in the journal Lucifer (October-December 1890) during the last years of her life. In this article, Blavatsky equated noetic with manasic (deriving from manas, a Sanskrit term for mind) and compared materialistic psychological views of her time with ancient Hindu religious teachings and occultism. She concluded that there is a higher noetic character of the mind principle than individual ego, a "spiritualdynamical" force relating to divine consciousness, as distinct from mechanistic psychological dogmas or passive psychicism. This interesting article was reprinted in volume 3 of Studies in Occultism, a series of reprinted articles by Blavatsky.

Musès's use of noetics has been picked up by Edgar D. Mitchell for his psychical research organization, the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

Sources:

Blavatsky, Helena P. "Psychic and Noetic Action." In Studies in Occultism. Boston: New England Theosophical Corporation, 1895.

Musès, Charles A. "The Politics of Psi: Acculturation and Hypnosis." In Extrasensory Ecology, edited by Joseph K. Long. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1977.