From: Jonathan B. Marder (jonathan.marder@newmail.net)
Date: Mon Sep 01 2003 - 15:51:33 BST
David M., Platt,
David M.
> Of course, physical science calls these
> patterns law and try to reduce all patterns to lower level 'law'
> patterns. Any thoughts? Do you know Rupert Sheldrake's work? His ideas
> may be useful in this area.
Platt:
If memory serves, Sheldrake proposed a universe of conscious memory
fields that, when strong enough, cause behavior in a species to change
and eventually become habitual (static.) His theory would explain how
static patterns "fix themselves."
It's been awhile since I read up on Sheldrake's theory, but I recall
being impressed at the first time I came across it. It appeared to
bolster my belief that the brain taps into consciousness in the
environment rather than creating consciousness independently and
miraculously out of a whirlwind of the neurons.
Jonathan replies:
Please note that Rupert Sheldrake's Morphic Fields idea has failed to gain
serious credence.
The observations Sheldrake cites are controversial (conventional
explanations work just as well as Sheldrake's) and Sheldrake has been unable
to provide an acceptable means of testing his ideas. A quick Google search
will throw up plenty of material on Sheldrake, from which it quickly becomes
apparent that contrary to 20 years ago, few scientists now take him
seriously - the ideas just didn't pan out.
Jonathan
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