We perceive the world through five senses facilitated by our bodies: touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. From a layperson’s perspective, anything that exists can be detected through these senses—though sometimes we must enhance or modify our usual ways of perceiving to recognize them.The concept of a sixth sense often arises in discussions about perception. Scientifically, no such sense is formally acknowledged. However, from the standpoint of human experience and understanding, something akin to a sixth sense may exist. It’s unclear whether this is a single sense or a broader phenomenon, largely because it operates beyond the reach of our five bodily senses. Our scientific exploration is grounded in these five senses, so anything beyond them often falls outside the scope of conventional scientific inquiry.

I believe that while humans cannot directly sense beyond the “fantastic five,” we can still comprehend realities that elude our physical senses. Moreover, there exists more than what our five senses can detect. This raises an important question: how can we bring such phenomena within the realm of scientific exploration? The answer may lie in thought—similar to how quantum physics explores abstract concepts not immediately accessible through direct observation.

But what is thought? Beyond the conventional definitions, I suggest that thought can grasp both the physical and the non-physical. By “non-physical,” I refer to aspects beyond the scope of our five senses or the body that houses them. If our minds can engage with concepts that our bodies cannot perceive, it indicates that our existence extends beyond the physical realm.

From this perspective, our non-physical existence can address both physical and non-physical matters, whereas our physical existence is limited to engaging with the tangible world. Science, as we know it, primarily addresses the physical. To explore beyond that, we require something more than conventional science. That doesn’t mean abandoning science; rather, it means acknowledging its limitations and seeking complementary approaches to expand our understanding. And ultimately, isn’t that the direction we want to go?