We want G-rated curiosity. We want the benefits of creativity and invention, but without the naughty bits. Newton practiced alchemy, occultism, and religious h

We want G-rated curiosity. We want the benefits of creativity and invention, but without the naughty bits. Newton practiced alchemy, occultism, and religious heresy. Thomas Edison researched the use of electromagnetic fields to communicate with the dead. Francis Crick claims that LSD played a role in the discovery of the structure of the DNA molecule. Jack Parsons, an early pioneer in solid rocketry and co-founder of NASA's JPL, was a practicing occultist and student of Alister Crowley. Robert Bigelow, founder of Bigelow Aerospace, has bankrolled investigations into the paranormal (Google 'NIDS') and claims that a UFO sighting inspired him to found an aerospace company. Burning Man is practically a Silicon Valley networking event. Is some of that stuff silly? Sure. But invention is a product of feral minds. If a truly questing mind wants to go there, it's gonna go there and your religious or skeptical-scientific reservations are not going to dissuade it. I suspect there are many more heretics we don't know about, especially among the non-tenured or not-yet-tenured in academia. Even with tenure, espousing really wild beliefs or asking really out there questions can get you hoisted up on a rail. In the private sector there's a bit of a bias too-- I'm sure many executives or entrepreneurs might feel wary of espousing out-there or unconventional beliefs for fear it might impact their ability to win customers or raise capital.