Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
New York : Times Books, c1988.
Description
Rupert Sheldrake's theory of morphic resonance challenges the fundamental assumptions of modern science. An accomplished biologist, Sheldrake proposes that all natural systems, from crystals to human society, inherit a collective memory that influences their form and behavior. Rather than being ruled by fixed laws, nature is essentially habitual. The Presence of the Past lays out the evidence for Sheldrake's controversial theory, exploring its implications in the fields of biology, physics, psychology, and sociology. At the same time, Sheldrake delivers a stinging critique of conventional scientific thinking. In place of the mechanistic, neo-Darwinian worldview he offers a new understanding of life, matter, and mind.
User reviews
LibraryThing member rajaratnam
In seeking to explain how the practice of pecking the tops off milk bottles spread across the world (almost magically) and other similar evidence of 'learning' across vast space, Sheldrake proposes that memory is inherent in nature; that nature has a 'morphic field' which guides and shapes growth
This is a rather brief summary of a challenging theory. Since science progresses in the tiniest leaps at the margin, and senior academics are not known to be willing to research something so far from their comfort zones, one needs to suspend what one 'knows' and consider unprovable matters to be receptive to Sheldrake's attempted explanation. But do we not accept the unconscious (how does one prove scientifically its existence?) or Dawkins' memes, 'punctuated equilibrium' in evolution theory, etc. etc?
Worth reading, were one to have an open mind. Yet, not convincing.
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in both the plant world and the animal world; and that this inherent memory depends on 'morphic resonance', a process which involves action at a distance in both space and time. He claims that our own memories result from our tuning in to ourselves in the past.This is a rather brief summary of a challenging theory. Since science progresses in the tiniest leaps at the margin, and senior academics are not known to be willing to research something so far from their comfort zones, one needs to suspend what one 'knows' and consider unprovable matters to be receptive to Sheldrake's attempted explanation. But do we not accept the unconscious (how does one prove scientifically its existence?) or Dawkins' memes, 'punctuated equilibrium' in evolution theory, etc. etc?
Worth reading, were one to have an open mind. Yet, not convincing.
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LibraryThing member Princesca
That past, present and future somehow co-exist it's an understanding I felt as true almost a year ago, so I agree with the hypothesis presented in this book, however, the author keeps repeating the same concept for 486 pages... it's really not necessary, also considering his logic passages are not
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necessarily that logic...and it's not that with this book he really proves anything from a rational-scientific point of view. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Physical description
xxii, 391 p.; 24 cm
ISBN
0812916662 / 9780812916669
Local notes
FB Very readable study of the history of science