Wilhelm Reich: Scientist or Scoundrel?

WILHELM REICH Scientist or Scoundrel?
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	So just who was Wilhelm Reich? It is difficult to evaluate Reich's work when so few objective or primary-source materials are available. Relying on the analyses of secondary sources, many of which are clearly biased in one direction or the other, can leave one swimming in a sea of shouted opinions cast as "just the facts." Science or Pseudoscience? It may prove useful to examine Reich's scientific hypotheses with regard to their falsifiability. In the study of psychology, a hypothesis is considered scientific only if it is testable, or falsifiable. Falsificationism has been largely advanced by Karl Popper, whose views are summarized below: "Science advances by unjustified, exaggerated guesses followed by unstinting criticism. Only hypotheses capable of clashing with observation reports are allowed to count as scientific." (Percival, R.S., The Karl Popper Web) Reich certainly advanced hypthoses which were exaggerated guesses, and his methods (empirical testing) appear to have been scientific enough, but his theories are based on hypotheses that are essentially untestable. In this way, one finds proving or disproving the existence of orgone energy is an exercise in futility similar to proving or disproving the existence of God. Scientist, Scoundrel, or...? Whether or not his theories were grounded in reality or good scientific method, the FDA's burning of Reich's work was an unquestionable travesty against science. Though Reich was charged with fraud, it is my belief that Reich did not intentionally deceive anyone; I think he truly believed in the existence and power of orgone energy and in the ability of his devices to manipulate that power for the good of all.

	Works Consulted Atwood, G.E., Solorow, R.D. (1977). The life and work of Wilhelm Reich: a case study of the subjectivity of personality theory. Psychoanalytic Review, 64,1, pp.5-20. Baker, E.F. (1968). Wilhelm Reich. Journal of Orgonomy, 1. From the American College of Orgonomy website. Cattier, M. (1971). The Life and Work of Wilhelm Reich. Horizon Press, New York. DeMeo, J. (1998). Wilhelm Reich's discoveries. Lithigraph. Ashland, Oregon. From the Orgone Biophysical Research Lab website. Kelley, C.R. (1962, 1999). What is orgone energy? From the Published Orgonomic Research Exchange website. Percival, R.S., The Karl Popper Web The images on this site are believed by the author to be public domain and were borrowed from the following sites: http://home.pb.net/~lilithli/wilhelm_reich.htm http://geocities.com/Athens/Atlantis/7247/Reich.html

WILHELM REICH

Scientist or Scoundrel?