Prompt Cast
Rupert Sheldrake's Theory of Morphic Resonance and its Implications for Animal Behavior
TLDR Rupert Sheldrake's concept of morphic resonance suggests that living things have a collective memory that influences their behavior, explaining phenomena such as fish schooling and dogs anticipating their owner's return. Critics argue that Sheldrake's commitment to his hypotheses makes it difficult for him to accept evidence that disproves them.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Rupert Sheldrake is a scientist who challenges the scientific orthodoxy and is labeled as a heretic by some, but he continues to question and explore new ideas.
05:11
Rupert Sheldrake is a highly trained scientist who challenges the scientific establishment and is different from other fringe thinkers because he is polite, calm, and engages with his critics.
10:10
Morphic fields are invisible guides or forces that shape the development and behavior of living things, and Rupert Sheldrake believes that they exist and contribute to a process called morphic resonance.
15:32
Rupert Sheldrake's concept of morphic resonance suggests that self-organizing systems have a collective memory that influences subsequent similar structures and behaviors, implying that the so-called laws of nature are more like habits.
20:34
Rupert Sheldrake's concept of morphic resonance explains various animal behaviors, such as fish schooling and dogs anticipating their owner's return, by suggesting the existence of collective memory and fields that humans are less sensitive to due to technological distractions.
25:52
Rupert Sheldrake suggests that crossword puzzles are easier to complete later in the day due to the morphic resonance of all the people who have already solved it, and that the feeling of being stared at is a result of morphic fields extending beyond the head.
30:58
Rupert Sheldrake conducted experiments that showed dogs can accurately predict when their owners are coming home.
36:10
Rupert Sheldrake conducted experiments that showed a dog accurately predicted when its owner was going to come home by going to the window to wait for her within a certain time frame of her leaving.
41:18
Critics of Rupert Sheldrake argue that he is so committed to his hypotheses that it is difficult for him to accept evidence that disproves them.
46:34
Rupert Sheldrake challenges the dogmatic beliefs of science and argues that we should be more open to differing ideas and interpretations.
51:49
Rupert Sheldrake challenges the scientific establishment by arguing that the laws of nature, such as the gravitational constant and the speed of light, are not constant and that understanding this could lead to a greater understanding of physics.
56:26
The podcast episode concludes with a listener's account of their experience at the Iowa caucus and a reminder for listeners to send in their own stories.
Categories:
Society & Culture
