Exposing Scientific Dogmas - Banned TED Talk - Rupert Sheldrake

Summary

In this thought-provoking talk, the speaker critiques the dogmas of materialist science that dominate modern understanding. These dogmas, which include the belief that the universe operates like a machine, that matter is unconscious, and that psychic phenomena are impossible, are challenged by new ideas such as morphic resonance and the evolving nature of scientific laws. The speaker advocates for a paradigm shift that would re-energize science by embracing open inquiry and questioning the very assumptions that have long held back innovation, especially in fields like biology, physics, and consciousness studies.

Takeaways

• 😀 Science has evolved from a method of open inquiry into a belief system, especially influenced by materialism, which limits free investigation.
• 😀 The speaker argues that science’s current worldview constricts the free flow of inquiry and suggests that a shift is needed to revitalize scientific exploration.
• 😀 One of the ten dogmas of science is that nature operates like a machine, and humans, animals, and plants are just mechanical systems.
• 😀 Another dogma is that matter is unconscious, and there is no consciousness in nature—this view has hindered progress in understanding the mind.
• 😀 The belief that the laws of nature are fixed is a dogma that hinders scientific innovation and overlooks the possibility of an evolving universe.
• 😀 The speaker introduces the idea that the regularities of nature may be more akin to evolving habits, rather than fixed laws, proposing morphic resonance as a possible explanation for these patterns.
• 😀 The concept of morphic resonance suggests that everything in nature has a kind of collective memory, where past patterns influence future occurrences, like the behavior of animals or the formation of crystals.
• 😀 The belief in fixed physical constants like the speed of light and gravitational constants is questioned, with evidence suggesting that these constants might fluctuate over time and space.
• 😀 The speaker challenges the dogma that consciousness is solely a product of the brain, proposing instead that consciousness may extend beyond the brain and interact with the external world.
• 😀 The feeling of being stared at is used as evidence of the mind’s ability to extend beyond the brain, suggesting a new way of thinking about perception and ecological relationships between predator and prey.

Q & A

What is the central argument of the speaker in this transcript?

The central argument is that modern science, particularly since the late 19th century, has been influenced by materialism and dogmatic assumptions. The speaker argues that these assumptions limit scientific inquiry and that by questioning them, science can be revitalized and reach new discoveries.

What are the '10 dogmas' mentioned in the transcript?

The '10 dogmas' are fundamental assumptions in modern science that the speaker believes inhibit true scientific progress. These include beliefs about the mechanical nature of nature, the unconsciousness of matter, fixed laws of nature, purposeless evolution, and others that restrict alternative ways of understanding the world, such as consciousness and the effectiveness of alternative medicine.

What is the significance of 'materialism' in the context of the speaker's argument?

Materialism, or philosophical materialism, is the worldview that underpins modern science. According to the speaker, materialism limits scientific inquiry by assuming that all phenomena can be explained by physical matter alone, ignoring other potential explanations for consciousness, the mind, and other mysteries.

How does the speaker challenge the idea that the laws of nature are fixed?

The speaker suggests that the laws of nature are not fixed, but rather evolve. They propose that instead of fixed 'laws', nature operates through 'habits' that evolve over time. This idea, called 'morphic resonance', suggests that there is a kind of collective memory that influences the behavior of organisms and natural systems.

What is the theory of 'morphic resonance' proposed by the speaker?

Morphic resonance is a hypothesis suggesting that nature has a kind of collective memory, where patterns and behaviors of organisms, such as the growth of giraffes or the crystallization of compounds, are influenced by previous instances of the same patterns. This idea contrasts with the traditional view that these behaviors are strictly determined by genetics.

What is the speaker's view on the constants of nature, like the speed of light?

The speaker questions the idea that constants of nature, such as the speed of light and the gravitational constant, are truly constant. They argue that these values may vary over time and space, and cite historical examples where the speed of light was measured differently in various periods. They advocate for further exploration into the potential fluctuation of these constants.

What is the significance of the speaker's interaction with the head of Metrology regarding the speed of light?

The interaction highlights a potential flaw in how scientific constants are measured and defined. The head of Metrology admitted that the speed of light was 'fixed' by definition in 1972 to avoid discrepancies, which the speaker uses to demonstrate how scientific assumptions can suppress further investigation into possible fluctuations in physical constants.

How does the speaker view the relationship between consciousness and the brain?

The speaker challenges the widely held belief that consciousness resides solely within the brain. Instead, they propose that the mind extends beyond the brain, suggesting that perception and thought may involve an outward projection of mental images. This theory redefines the boundaries of consciousness, proposing that the mind is not confined to the brain.

What is the 'sense of being stared at' and how does it relate to the speaker's argument?

The 'sense of being stared at' is a phenomenon where people feel they are being watched, even if no one is directly in their line of sight. The speaker suggests that this phenomenon provides evidence for the idea that our minds can extend beyond our brains and interact with the environment, supporting their hypothesis of a more expansive form of consciousness.

What does the speaker mean by science undergoing a 'reflowering' or 'Renaissance'?

The speaker envisions a revitalization of science by moving beyond the dogmatic assumptions that have dominated modern thought. They believe that by questioning these assumptions—such as the fixed nature of physical constants and the materialist worldview—science can become more dynamic, interesting, and life-affirming.