Morphic fields, a concept introduced by British biologist Rupert Sheldrake, are a theoretical framework used to explain how patterns of energy and information shape biological systems and the behavior of organisms. According to drudge report sources, here’s a breakdown of the concept:
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Hypothesis of Formative Causation: Sheldrake’s theory, known as the “hypothesis of formative causation,” suggests that morphic fields are responsible for the shape and behavior of living things and physical systems. They are not physical in the traditional sense but are more like organizing principles.
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Morphic Resonance: A key aspect of this theory is “morphic resonance,” which proposes that morphic fields can influence organisms across time and space without direct contact. For instance, if a certain behavior or characteristic is repeated in a species, it becomes more entrenched and likely to occur again, potentially even in other members of the species who are not directly connected to the original group.
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Application in Biology: In biology, morphic fields are used to explain why certain patterns in nature are stable and recur, such as the shape of a species or the instinctual behaviors seen in animals.
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Criticism and Controversy: The concept of morphic fields is controversial and not widely accepted in the scientific community. Critics argue that there is a lack of empirical evidence supporting the theory, and it challenges conventional scientific understanding of physical laws and biology.
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Broader Implications: Beyond biology, Sheldrake has suggested that morphic fields could also explain phenomena in the realm of psychology, sociology, and even collective human memory.
In summary, morphic fields are a theoretical construct proposed to explain the formation and behavior of living organisms through non-physical informational fields, but they remain outside the mainstream of scientific thought due to a lack of empirical support and their challenge to established scientific paradigms.