Rupert Sheldrake

This article is about Rupert Sheldrake and his theory of morphic fields. For the concept in developmental biology, see Morphogenetic field.

Rupert Sheldrake
Sheldrake in 2008
Born (1942-06-28) 28 June 1942 (age 82)
Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England[1]
NationalityBritish
EducationClare College, Cambridge (MA)
Harvard University
University of Cambridge (PhD)
Occupation(s)Researcher, author, critic
EmployerThe Perrott-Warrick Fund (2005–2010)
SpouseJill Purce
ChildrenCosmo Sheldrake
Merlin Sheldrake
Websitewww.sheldrake.org

Alfred Rupert Sheldrake (born 28 June 1942) is an English author and parapsychology researcher. He proposed the concept of morphic resonance,[2][3] a conjecture that lacks mainstream acceptance and has been widely criticized as pseudoscience.[4][5][6][7][8] He has worked as a biochemist at Cambridge University, a Harvard scholar, a researcher at the Royal Society, and a plant physiologist for ICRISAT in India.[2][9]

Other work by Sheldrake encompasses paranormal subjects such as precognition, empirical research into telepathy, and the psychic staring effect.[10][11] He has been described as a New Age author.[12][13][14]

Sheldrake's morphic resonance posits that "memory is inherent in nature"[2][15] and that "natural systems ... inherit a collective memory from all previous things of their kind."[15] Sheldrake proposes that it is also responsible for "telepathy-type interconnections between organisms."[16][10] His advocacy of the idea offers idiosyncratic explanations of standard subjects in biology such as development, inheritance, and memory.

Critics cite a lack of evidence for morphic resonance and inconsistencies between its tenets and data from genetics, embryology, neuroscience, and biochemistry. They also express concern that popular attention paid to Sheldrake's books and public appearances undermines the public's understanding of science.[a]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference bio-anglican was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference TimAdams was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference whitfield was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Pracontal, Michel de (2001). L'imposture scientifique en dix leçons : édition du troisième millénaire. Paris: Editions La Découverte. ISBN 2-7071-3293-4.
  5. ^ Kaufmann, Allison B.; Kaufmann, James C. (2018). Kaufman, Allison B; Kaufman, James C (eds.). Pseudoscience: The Conspiracy Against Science. MIT Press. doi:10.7551/mitpress/10747.001.0001. ISBN 9780262344814. S2CID 240203967. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  6. ^ Hassani, Sadri (1 September 2015). "'Post-Materialist' Science? A Smokescreen for Woo". Skeptical Inquirer. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Maddox 1981 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Blancke, Stefaan; Boudry, Maarten; Pigliucci, Massimo (February 2017). "Why Do Irrational Beliefs Mimic Science? The Cultural Evolution of Pseudoscience: Cultural evolution of pseudoscience". Theoria. 83 (1): 78–97. doi:10.1111/theo.12109. S2CID 151706584.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference chaos was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference hood was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  15. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference presencepast was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  20. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference rose was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  23. ^ Coyne, Jerry A. (8 November 2013). "Pseudoscientist Rupert Sheldrake Is Not Being Persecuted, And Is Not Like Galileo". The New Republic.
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference Blackmore 2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Rutherford was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  27. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rose 1988 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  28. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wolpert 1984 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  29. ^ Shermer, Michael (1 November 2005). "Rupert's Resonance". Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  30. ^ Horgan, John. "Scientific Heretic Rupert Sheldrake on Morphic Fields, Psychic Dogs and Other Mysteries". Scientific American Blog Network. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  31. ^ Leviton, Mark. "Wrong Turn". The Sun Magazine. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  32. ^ "Sheldrake-Shermer, Materialism in Science, Opening Statements". TheBestSchools.org. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2019.


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