Prescience

Prescience is the ability to predict the future through vision. Throughout history a number of cultures have believed that oracles have possessed this ability. It is one of a number of alleged psychic phenomena studied by Parapsychology. According to the Western scientific viewpoint prescience is impossible; but this has not prevented a huge number of people in the modern world from believing in astrology and visiting fortune tellers.

Prescience is an important concept in the fictional Dune universe, as created by Frank Herbert. His Dune saga explores the consequences of a society ruled by individuals who possess genuine prescience. Herbert concludes that the ability would be curse, rather than a blessing.

Cassandra, the legendary daughter of King Priam of Troy and Hecuba, was prescient, but was cursed by Apollo to have no one believe her predictions.