Rupert and well-known skeptic Michael Shermer explore the boundaries of human understanding and the nature of scientific knowledge. Shermer argues that while we can never be entirely certain about anything, the scientific method is the best tool we have for approximating truth. He emphasizes the importance of replication in scientific studies and is skeptical of claims that challenge established scientific theories without strong evidence. Sheldrake, on the other hand, believes that there are areas of human experience currently considered taboo in mainstream science that deserve investigation. He argues that the skepticism towards such phenomena is often rooted in a materialist worldview that limits the scope of scientific inquiry. Both agree on the importance of evidence but differ on what constitutes sufficient evidence to challenge existing paradigms.

00:00 Introduction
01:32 Michael Shermer pitch
05:48 Rupert Sheldrake pitch
13:58 Who is censoring you?
17:39 Psychic research evidence
20:30 Consciousness
22:02 What is evidence?
22:52 Alternative theories of physics
25:35 Mechanistic materialism
27:37 Roger Penrose
29:28 How do ideas become accepted?
30:45 Burden of proof
32:24 Scientific conservatism
34:28 Alternative medicine
36:30 Everybody thinks they're Galileo


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Presented by The Institute of Art and Ideas at the ‘How The Light Gets In’ festival at Hay-on-Wye, 2023

iai.tv/

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Dr Rupert Sheldrake, PhD, is a biologist and author best known for his hypothesis of morphic resonance. At Cambridge University he worked in developmental biology as a Fellow of Clare College. He was Principal Plant Physiologist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics and From 2005 to 2010 was Director of the Perrott-Warrick project, Cambridge.

www.sheldrake.org/

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Michael Shermer is the editor of Skeptic magazine, the author of the Skeptic column in Scientific American and head of the Skeptics Society.