PRESENCE OF THE PAST - Hardcover

Rezensionen

In his A New Science of Life ( LJ 5/15/82), Sheldrake put forward the hypothesis of "formative causation" to explain evolutionary development. In this book, he focuses on "morphic resonance," one aspect of the hypothesis, and describes how morphic fields influence organisms to develop in a given way. He contends that morphic fields shape the expression of genetic characteristics and the evolution of behavior and social structures, and discusses how field theories from physics, ideas about the "collective unconscious" in the social sciences, and evolutionary theories in the life sciences may relate to one another. A book for specialists, most appropriate for academic philosophy of science collections. Laurie Tynan, Montgomery Cty.
Norristown P.L., Pa.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Biochemist Sheldrake maintains that if a pigeon in London learns a new habit, then pigeons everywhere else will automatically show an increasing tendency to learn the same habit. He holds that invisible energy patterns or "morphogenetic fields" surround and shape all atoms, all crystals, all pigeons and all humans. In his astonishing theory, any natural systemwhether insulin molecules, dandelions or societiesinherits a collective memory from all previous members of that group. Experimental evidence for Sheldrake's hypothesis is inconclusive but tantalizing. If true, it would force a radical revision of our understanding of genetics, evolution, memory, learning. Many books on the "new physics" and the paranormal have discussed Sheldrake's ideas, but his own explanation of morphic resonance is the most lucid and exciting account to date. He uses the theory here to suggest how creation myths and rituals connect past and present.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.