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Philosophy For Our Times

On the edges of knowledge | Michael Shermer vs Rupert Sheldrake

Dec 12, 2023
Renowned scientists, Michael Shermer and Rupert Sheldrake, engage in a head-to-head debate on accessing scientific knowledge. They discuss the limits of human understanding, rationality, materialism, prejudice, integrating alternative theories of physics, and the burden of proof in scientific debates.
39:26

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Rupert Sheldrake calls for the investigation of ordinary phenomena and criticizes skeptics for promoting censorship in science.
  • Michael Shermer emphasizes the importance of strong evidence and replication before accepting alternative theories.

Deep dives

The Debate: Accessing Scientific Knowledge

This podcast episode features a debate between radical scientist Rupert Sheldrake and skeptic Michael Shermer on the topic of accessing scientific knowledge. Sheldrake questions the limits of science and criticizes skeptics for promoting censorship. He argues for the investigation of ordinary phenomena such as the sense of being stared at or telephone telepathy, claiming that there is compelling evidence for these experiences. Shermer, on the other hand, argues for a scientific and rational approach, stating that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. He emphasizes the importance of replication and the need for strong evidence before overthrowing established scientific theories. The debate revolves around the burden of proof, the role of evidence, and the influence of prevailing scientific paradigms.

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