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A New Science of Life: The Hypothesis of Morphic Resonance
Why do many phenomena defy the explanations of conventional biology and physics? For instance, when laboratory rats in one place have learned how to navigate a new maze, why do rats elsewhere seem to learn it more easily? Rupert Sheldrake describes this process as morphic. The past forms and behaviors of organisms, he argues, influence organisms in the present through direct connections across time and space. Calling into question many of our fundamental concepts about life and consciousness, Sheldrake reinterprets the regularities of nature as being more like habits than immutable laws.
The first edition of A New Science of Life created a furor when it appeared, provoking the outrage of the old-guard scientific community and the approbation of the new. The British journal Nature called it "the best candidate for burning there has been for many years." A lively debate ensued, as researchers devised experiments testing Sheldrake's hypothesis, including some involving millions of people through the medium of television. These developments are recorded in this revised and expanded edition.
The first edition of A New Science of Life created a furor when it appeared, provoking the outrage of the old-guard scientific community and the approbation of the new. The British journal Nature called it "the best candidate for burning there has been for many years." A lively debate ensued, as researchers devised experiments testing Sheldrake's hypothesis, including some involving millions of people through the medium of television. These developments are recorded in this revised and expanded edition.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
95 people are currently reading
1962 people want to read
About the author
Rupert Sheldrake
64 books690 followersRupert Sheldrake is a biologist and author of more than 80 scientific papers and ten books. A former Research Fellow of the Royal Society, he studied natural sciences at Cambridge University, where he was a Scholar of Clare College, took a double first class honours degree and was awarded the University Botany Prize. He then studied philosophy and history of science at Harvard University, where he was a Frank Knox Fellow, before returning to Cambridge, where he took a Ph.D. in biochemistry. He was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, where he was Director of Studies in biochemistry and cell biology. As the Rosenheim Research Fellow of the Royal Society, he carried out research on the development of plants and the ageing of cells in the Department of Biochemistry at Cambridge University.
Recently, drawing on the work of French philosopher Henri Bergson, he developed the theory of morphic resonance, which makes use of the older notion of morphogenetic fields. He has researched and written on topics such as animal and plant development and behaviour, telepathy, perception and metaphysics.
Recently, drawing on the work of French philosopher Henri Bergson, he developed the theory of morphic resonance, which makes use of the older notion of morphogenetic fields. He has researched and written on topics such as animal and plant development and behaviour, telepathy, perception and metaphysics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 13, 2014
Fascinating read.. Creationism is not the only, nor the best challenge to neo-Darwinism, and the mechanistic science paradigm. The gatekeepers at TED banned this man's talk, due to a blackball from their anonymous science board. This is an entirely different tactic to refuting this man's hypotheses and theory. Give this one a read!
April 15, 2010
This is a really important book. I've heard about Sheldrake and the morphogenic field for years, but never pursued it until now.
As other reviewers here note, this book is rather technical. Accessible if you have a good science education, otherwise I would suggest downloading one of the excellent talks from the author's website http://www.sheldrake.org/B&R/audi...
Sheldrake like Einstein proposes what seems like a small modification to the equations that we use to predict the physical world that has hugely profound effects. Small modifications that explain current unexplainables and make testable predictions.
Like Einstein? Maybe I should say like Galileo, for as Sir John Maddox wrote as editor of Nature, "Sheldrake is putting forth magic instead of science, and that should be condemned using exactly the same language that the Pope used to condemn Galileo, and for the same reason. It is heresy."
Heresy indeed. For although the book is chokka with very good science and science history, Sheldrake points out in his incisive analysis of the current paradigm that it is based on religious metaphysics we inherit from the Greeks, and he ends his book with an analysis of possible metaphysics that can encompass his theories.
Maddox speaking of magic is perhaps referring to Sheldrake's telepathy experiments. I've known about scientifically iron clad verifications of telepathy for quite a while, but it's the data from the physical world that really blow me away and give his work a powerful extra bite.
Did you know that boiling points of compounds, which are in our current understanding constant, with new manufactured compounds actually start low and slowly increase? Go to the website and give it a listen.
As other reviewers here note, this book is rather technical. Accessible if you have a good science education, otherwise I would suggest downloading one of the excellent talks from the author's website http://www.sheldrake.org/B&R/audi...
Sheldrake like Einstein proposes what seems like a small modification to the equations that we use to predict the physical world that has hugely profound effects. Small modifications that explain current unexplainables and make testable predictions.
Like Einstein? Maybe I should say like Galileo, for as Sir John Maddox wrote as editor of Nature, "Sheldrake is putting forth magic instead of science, and that should be condemned using exactly the same language that the Pope used to condemn Galileo, and for the same reason. It is heresy."
Heresy indeed. For although the book is chokka with very good science and science history, Sheldrake points out in his incisive analysis of the current paradigm that it is based on religious metaphysics we inherit from the Greeks, and he ends his book with an analysis of possible metaphysics that can encompass his theories.
Maddox speaking of magic is perhaps referring to Sheldrake's telepathy experiments. I've known about scientifically iron clad verifications of telepathy for quite a while, but it's the data from the physical world that really blow me away and give his work a powerful extra bite.
Did you know that boiling points of compounds, which are in our current understanding constant, with new manufactured compounds actually start low and slowly increase? Go to the website and give it a listen.
November 30, 2015
i read this back in the 80s when i knew much less about science. it's compelling but ultimately it cannot be said to be based on actual scientific, empirical evidence or methodology.
here's a link to a Scientific American article that gives an overview of why Sheldrake's proposals just don't add up: http://www.scientificamerican.com/art...
and another from the Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisf...
here's a link to a Scientific American article that gives an overview of why Sheldrake's proposals just don't add up: http://www.scientificamerican.com/art...
and another from the Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisf...
September 26, 2023
Sheldrake’s advanced education took place at Nottingham University and later at Cambridge, though he studied widely elsewhere too. He began to develop his unorthodox hypotheses during his early career as a biochemist and botanist. Due to his observations and unanswered questions (arising from annoying gaps in the current theories), Dr. Sheldrake sought answers though a study of the history of Western sciences.
The nutshell version of his quest: he became fascinated with the concept of morphic fields (not originating with Sheldrake, being a general idea whose gist had been previously articulated). He has gone on to elaborate the idea of “morphogenesis” and formulate the concept of “morphic resonance” — both of these having relevance, he believes, in an emerging theory of the development process of inanimate physical systems and of every living organism (and theories of habit, instinct, and evolution). He also sees broad potential for these ideas in helping to explain other aspects of nature, such as the motion of animals (being effected through “motor fields”). Even in this early book, he’s patient in suggesting and explaining some of the myriad ramifications of his tenets.
The book presents the core ideas that Sheldrake has arrived at, as well as some speculations that he merely entertains. Support for his concepts and hypotheses has derived partly from experiments he and other contemporary scientists have carried out to deliberately test them. Added to this, he also ascertains support in various observations and experimental outcomes published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Though perhaps especially apt for those interested in biology, I feel the book might be an exciting read for any general reader with an interest in science.
The nutshell version of his quest: he became fascinated with the concept of morphic fields (not originating with Sheldrake, being a general idea whose gist had been previously articulated). He has gone on to elaborate the idea of “morphogenesis” and formulate the concept of “morphic resonance” — both of these having relevance, he believes, in an emerging theory of the development process of inanimate physical systems and of every living organism (and theories of habit, instinct, and evolution). He also sees broad potential for these ideas in helping to explain other aspects of nature, such as the motion of animals (being effected through “motor fields”). Even in this early book, he’s patient in suggesting and explaining some of the myriad ramifications of his tenets.
The book presents the core ideas that Sheldrake has arrived at, as well as some speculations that he merely entertains. Support for his concepts and hypotheses has derived partly from experiments he and other contemporary scientists have carried out to deliberately test them. Added to this, he also ascertains support in various observations and experimental outcomes published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Though perhaps especially apt for those interested in biology, I feel the book might be an exciting read for any general reader with an interest in science.
September 26, 2023
My recent re-read of the book has been rewarding. For instance, I grasped the dynamic concept of chreodes much better this time, and gained a better understanding of Sheldrake’s use of the broad term “motor fields”.
I stand by my enthusiastic earlier review of the first edition of the book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One way that Dr. Sheldrake illustrates his theory of Morphic Resonance is in creative success. If something new is attempted, and proves successful, Sheldrake maintains that the more people who do this creative action (if it provides benefit), the easier it will be to for other individuals to learn — through resonance. If a very large number of persons do this action, it will become extremely easy for people to learn to do it.
Sheldrake puts forward that the principle is not limited to human beings; he explains by examples that it can be discerned in well-documented occurrences amongst animals. Sheldrake believes the morphic-resonance principle has always been in operation throughout the entire universe.
This newer edition of the book includes interesting appendices presenting (among other items) an account of the controversies stirred by the first edition, and Sheldrake’s discussion with prominent physicist David Bohm.
I stand by my enthusiastic earlier review of the first edition of the book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One way that Dr. Sheldrake illustrates his theory of Morphic Resonance is in creative success. If something new is attempted, and proves successful, Sheldrake maintains that the more people who do this creative action (if it provides benefit), the easier it will be to for other individuals to learn — through resonance. If a very large number of persons do this action, it will become extremely easy for people to learn to do it.
Sheldrake puts forward that the principle is not limited to human beings; he explains by examples that it can be discerned in well-documented occurrences amongst animals. Sheldrake believes the morphic-resonance principle has always been in operation throughout the entire universe.
This newer edition of the book includes interesting appendices presenting (among other items) an account of the controversies stirred by the first edition, and Sheldrake’s discussion with prominent physicist David Bohm.
April 22, 2008
As follow up, check out the Princeton Egg experiment. This is one eye opener.
July 27, 2020
Complete and utter scientific sounding garbage. Read to know how our minds got to be so open they are now falling out.
February 11, 2021
I’ll think about it
April 10, 2007
In experiments, it's been proven that if you train rats to run a maze in, say, England, and allow different rats in, say, Australia, to run the same maze a day or two later, the new rats will learn to run the maze faster than the first group.
Sheldrake is interested in experiments like these. This book puts forth the foundation of his radical, incomplete theory. It is fairly technical. It is also very convincing in some areas. Anyway, it's interesting and I spend a lot of time thinking about the questions he raises.
He is sometimes dismissed because he is interested in ESP and other junk like that. However, much of the scientific communinity takes him seriously because he has the credentials.
Sheldrake is interested in experiments like these. This book puts forth the foundation of his radical, incomplete theory. It is fairly technical. It is also very convincing in some areas. Anyway, it's interesting and I spend a lot of time thinking about the questions he raises.
He is sometimes dismissed because he is interested in ESP and other junk like that. However, much of the scientific communinity takes him seriously because he has the credentials.
November 18, 2018
I heard about Sheldrake's ideas years ago and was interested, so I bought the book and put it on a shelf where it sat for years. Over those years, my opinion of Sheldrake deteriorated. But... I didn't want to get rid of a book that I had never read, especially if it meant leaving myself with a poor opinion of a book I hadn't actually read.
Meh. Well..it was nonsense. But, I must admit, it is some of the most eloquent nonsense I have ever read. *shrug* So... I'll rate it a 2 instead of a 1.
Now I can get rid of this book, guilt-free, and feel fully entitled to keep my low opinion of Sheldrake.
That'll teach me to thoughtlessly buy books I'm not quite ready to read just yet.
Meh. Well..it was nonsense. But, I must admit, it is some of the most eloquent nonsense I have ever read. *shrug* So... I'll rate it a 2 instead of a 1.
Now I can get rid of this book, guilt-free, and feel fully entitled to keep my low opinion of Sheldrake.
That'll teach me to thoughtlessly buy books I'm not quite ready to read just yet.
Read
December 30, 2013An eminently reasonable set of testable hypotheses regarding morphogenesis which, however promising, are potentially paradigm-shattering enough to mobilize contingents of mysotheists to incessantly vandalize the author's wikipedia page and discourage any experimental investigation into the matter.
January 25, 2008
Sheldrake's reasoned unification of biology and subtle energy
March 11, 2008
Excellent book. Innovative concept.
April 22, 2009
A wonderful look at a brilliant scientists theory of morphogenesis.
January 5, 2011
The hypothesis of formative causation is deeply compelling. Repeatedly the ideas in this book pokes holes in our present scientific assumptions about very fundamental aspects of... everything.
April 2, 2013
path breaking work, and wonderful exposition of an idea Nature magazine wanted to burn out.
September 7, 2015
I read this many years ago, but remember liking it very much.
January 19, 2022
Excellent book talking about the theory of Morphic Resonance which seems to have a large amount of evidence for it. Honestly this is one of those life changing, perspective changing books which helps make a lot of things make sense, like pieces of a puzzle clicking together.
It's basically the theory that every collection of atoms or shape has a morphic field which contains the knowledge gained by that shape over the course of history.
Examples are that crystals become easier to form and become more stable, and their melting point increases as they do so.
Also that analog robots can learn things even without having a memory bank, since their memories are stored in the morphic field.
This really operates on the second law of thermodynamics, is very interesting.
The appendix is worthwhile to read as well.
definitely worth archiving.
It's basically the theory that every collection of atoms or shape has a morphic field which contains the knowledge gained by that shape over the course of history.
Examples are that crystals become easier to form and become more stable, and their melting point increases as they do so.
Also that analog robots can learn things even without having a memory bank, since their memories are stored in the morphic field.
This really operates on the second law of thermodynamics, is very interesting.
The appendix is worthwhile to read as well.
definitely worth archiving.
May 22, 2020
Very interesting hypothesis with broad implications and some strong anecdotal evidence. However some of the experimental data that was presented was either presented poorly or did not really support the hypothesis because the concept is too vague (and in many cases difficult to distinguish from other phenomena) and prone to overgeneralization.
I found the most compelling and interesting observations to be of the simple physical and chemical systems such as the increases in melting point of novel chemicals over time or the sudden disappearance of particular crystalline forms in tightly controlled drug manufacturing operations.
I found the most compelling and interesting observations to be of the simple physical and chemical systems such as the increases in melting point of novel chemicals over time or the sudden disappearance of particular crystalline forms in tightly controlled drug manufacturing operations.
April 16, 2018
Un libro revolucionario e imprescindible. Una de las hipótesis científicas más importantes del siglo XX.
December 18, 2021
Interesante!
August 22, 2024
A PROVOCATIVE, CONTROVERSIAL, YET HIGHLY-INTERESTING PROPOSAL
Rupert Sheldrake (born 1942) is an English biochemist and plant physiologist who has also written books such as 'Morphic Resonance: The Nature of Formative Causation,' 'The Presence of the Past: Morphic Resonance and the Habits of Nature,' 'Seven Experiments That Could Change the World: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Revolutionary Science,' and co-wrote with Matthew Fox 'The Physics of Angels: Exploring the Realm Where Science and Spirit Meet' and 'Natural Grace: Dialogues on creation, darkness, and the soul in spirituality and science.'
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1981 book, "The hypothesis put forward in this book is ... that specific morphogenetic fields are responsible for the characteristic form and organization of systems at all levels of complexity... According to this hypothesis, systems are organized in the way they are because similar systems were organized that way in the past."
Here are some additional quotations from the book:
"Thus a possible vitalist theory of morphogenesis could be summarized as follows: ... the organization of the cells, tissues, and organs, and the co-ordination of the development of the organism as a whole, is determined by entelechy (i.e., "that which realizes or makes actual what is otherwise merely potential"). The latter is inherited non-materially from past members of the same species..." (Pg. 48)
"But then what determines the particular form of the morphogenetic field? One possible answer is that morphogenetic fields are eternal. They are simply given, and are not explicable in terms of anything else... The other possible answer is ... Chemical and biological forms are repeated ... because of a causal influence from previous similar forms." (Pg. 93)
"But according to the hypothesis of formative causation, the form of a system depends on the cumulative morphic influence of previous similar systems. Thus this influence will be stronger on the billionth occasion than on the one thousandth or the tenth." (Pg. 104)
"(A)ccording to the hypothesis of formative causation organisms also inherit the morphogenetic fields of past organisms of the same species. This second type of inheritance takes place by morphic resonance and not through the genes. So heredity includes BOTH genetic inheritance AND morphic resonance from similar past forms." (Pg. 122)
"The hypothesis of formative causation applies to all aspects of human behaviour in which particular patterns of movement are repeated. But it cannot account for the origin of these patterns in the first place. Here, as elsewhere, the problem of creativity lies outside the scope of natural science, and an answer can only be given on metaphysical grounds." (Pg. 196)
Rupert Sheldrake (born 1942) is an English biochemist and plant physiologist who has also written books such as 'Morphic Resonance: The Nature of Formative Causation,' 'The Presence of the Past: Morphic Resonance and the Habits of Nature,' 'Seven Experiments That Could Change the World: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Revolutionary Science,' and co-wrote with Matthew Fox 'The Physics of Angels: Exploring the Realm Where Science and Spirit Meet' and 'Natural Grace: Dialogues on creation, darkness, and the soul in spirituality and science.'
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1981 book, "The hypothesis put forward in this book is ... that specific morphogenetic fields are responsible for the characteristic form and organization of systems at all levels of complexity... According to this hypothesis, systems are organized in the way they are because similar systems were organized that way in the past."
Here are some additional quotations from the book:
"Thus a possible vitalist theory of morphogenesis could be summarized as follows: ... the organization of the cells, tissues, and organs, and the co-ordination of the development of the organism as a whole, is determined by entelechy (i.e., "that which realizes or makes actual what is otherwise merely potential"). The latter is inherited non-materially from past members of the same species..." (Pg. 48)
"But then what determines the particular form of the morphogenetic field? One possible answer is that morphogenetic fields are eternal. They are simply given, and are not explicable in terms of anything else... The other possible answer is ... Chemical and biological forms are repeated ... because of a causal influence from previous similar forms." (Pg. 93)
"But according to the hypothesis of formative causation, the form of a system depends on the cumulative morphic influence of previous similar systems. Thus this influence will be stronger on the billionth occasion than on the one thousandth or the tenth." (Pg. 104)
"(A)ccording to the hypothesis of formative causation organisms also inherit the morphogenetic fields of past organisms of the same species. This second type of inheritance takes place by morphic resonance and not through the genes. So heredity includes BOTH genetic inheritance AND morphic resonance from similar past forms." (Pg. 122)
"The hypothesis of formative causation applies to all aspects of human behaviour in which particular patterns of movement are repeated. But it cannot account for the origin of these patterns in the first place. Here, as elsewhere, the problem of creativity lies outside the scope of natural science, and an answer can only be given on metaphysical grounds." (Pg. 196)
August 30, 2014
Stopped reading the book since it was getting too technical for a casual read. The hypothesis is a little bizzare and very new ageish. The fact that Deepak Chopra endorses Sheldrake doesn't help either.
Hoewever, he sets out his premises quite nicely and builds up on the basics quite neatly. That makes it an interesting read.
I might pick this up later sometime.
Hoewever, he sets out his premises quite nicely and builds up on the basics quite neatly. That makes it an interesting read.
I might pick this up later sometime.
January 18, 2024
Aaarrgghh. Seriously challenging… one for winter nights and a dictionary… fascinating nevertheless. I have to read a few pages then ponder for days if not weeks… a couple of months later- still reading, although my vocabulary has improved.l, and little by little my understanding. More from me soon
August 20, 2013
İlginç, spekülatif, zihin uyarıcı ve aslında çığır açıcı bir kitaptır. Yaşamın biçimleri ve oluşumları hakkında morfik alanlar denen kuram hakkında bilgi sahibi olmak ilgilenen herkes için bence zorunlu...
October 24, 2016
Daudz liekvārdības un garš ievads. Problēma ir ļoti labi izprotama, taču pati teorija ir tikai ideja un nostāšanās pret moderno stagnātisko zinātnes pasauli.
Ja vērtē saturu, tad noteikti piecas zvaigznes - grāmata ir interesanta. Bet lasīt ir grūti.
Ja vērtē saturu, tad noteikti piecas zvaigznes - grāmata ir interesanta. Bet lasīt ir grūti.
Currently reading
May 2, 2010Auf Seite 39, ist nicht so spannend
November 3, 2012
Interesting
December 9, 2012
Probably good but I couldn't finish it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews