User:Barney the barney barney/sandbox3

Guardian/Observer

The following are articles mentioning "Rupert Sheldrake" in the Guardian and the Observer and my comments on them. All Grauniad typos are original.

Reference	Date and page	Notes
A rat never forgets: Experiments begun sixty years ago may provide evidence for a kind of influence which enables animals to ture in to the experiences of their predecessors. Rupert Sheldrake reports The Guardian	18 June 1981: 19.	Sheldrake muses on MacDougal's rat experiments and the supposed inheritance of acquired characteristics
Darwin revisited The Guardian	27 July 1981: 10.	An unnamed Guardian contributor (probably Brian Inglis) thinks "neo-Darwinian theory of evolution remains a tentative hypothesis", talks about Edward Steele's work and praises Sheldrake.
Old rats and new tricks Davy, John. The Observer	09 Aug 1981: 22.	John Davy (science editor) reviews Sheldrake's first book
One up for evolution The Guardian	07 Jan 1982: 10.	Commentary on the result in McLean v. Arkansas. Editor (probably as before) touts Sheldrake as an alternative to Darwin.
Resounding triumphs The Guardian	28 Apr 1983: 21.	Large article on morphic resonance by Sheldrake. Sheldrake at this point is still proposing testing MR, and thinks it can be done by the general public. Quotable quote: "the hypothesis of formative causation is unlikely to be widely accepted unless it has a considerable body of evidence in its favour. But if experiments... ...begin to yield results which support it then... ...there would be good reason to pursue it further. Clearly its implications would be revolutionary."
LETTERS: Memories are made of... this? Todd-Pokropck, A. The Guardian	12 May 1983: 19.	Letters about Sheldrake's previous article. Two slightly frivolous: Eugene Crichlow (Leicester). Andrew Todd-Pokropek (check him out) commented that "on reading the article my mouth fell open at the fact that The Guardian should devote so much space to this topic. Spontaneously and synchronously I observed the effect for a whole group of people".
Being more than sorry about Galileo The Guardian	14 May 1983: 10.	An editor (possibly Brian Inglis]]) compares persecution of Galileo by the Roman Catholic Church to both Lysenkoism and "the petulance of wrath of the scientific establishment on being presented with ideas it could not assimilate" directed against Arthur Koestler and Rupert Sheldrake. Concludes that "scientists who think that human history somehow owes its whole origin to the double helix are not where the action is".
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: The Holy See--but it takes a long time to admit it Dannatt, Clare. The Guardian	19 May 1983: 12.	Brian Charlesworth FRS writes into the Guardian explaining the scientific process to them, and criticising the "being more than sorry about Galileo" piece. Contrasts the view of biologists to the "eccentric figures such as Sheldrake and [Arthur] Koestler". with their Vitalistic and Lamarckian ideas, with biologists who do indeed think "the double helix is where the action is".
BODY AND SOUL: Only collect Inglis, Brian. The Guardian	05 Oct 1983: 13.	Inglis encourages scientists to investigate souls, and praises Sheldrake's theories as "plausible".
Truth will out Inglis, Brian. The Guardian	28 Dec 1983: 12.	Brian Inglis argues that the truth will out over Sheldrake. Notes Michael Kenward (editor of New Scientist)'s defence of Maddox.
A matter of fact or fancy?: SECOND OPINION Wolpert, Lewis. The Guardian	11 Jan 1984: 11.	Lewis Wolpert attacks "Sheldrake's pseudoscience".
The patient's doing nicely, thank you: Scientific Strength Test SECOND OPINION Lee, Graham. The Guardian	01 Feb 1984: 11	Graham Lee (probably not either of those) attacks Wolpert's piece and suggests the need for "more testing".
The man who found a new community spirit Jones, Maxwell. The Guardian	01 Aug 1984: 13.	Maxwell Jones mentions Sheldrake briefly; "He sees hope in the blend of Eastern and Western philosophies that can inform our thinking in the work of scientists like [Fritjof] Capra and Sheldrake who have gone way past the rigidity of scientific tradition."
New tricks from the old dogs Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	03 Jan 1985: 8.	Rupert Sheldrake offers a test of MR.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: How the Black Report on Sellafield radiation broke the rules of scientific methodology	10 Jan 1985: 12	Ron Fisher - (alas, not Sir Ronald Fisher, who's by now quite dead), sarcastically asks Sheldrake in the hope that it will, by morphic resonance, help him understand it better, the insightful implication being that it doesn't make any sense.
When the wool starts thinking The Guardian	28 Feb 1985: 12.	Unidentified author on Sheldrake's morphic resonance and how it might apply to sheep
If we know now, what we knew then The Guardian	11 Dec 1985: 13.	Large piece on Sheldrake in conversation with Ann Shearer. Somewhat superficial.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Why social workers need support Thomas, Anne. "When a little learning is a dangerous thing" The Guardian	16 Dec 1985: 12.	Alan J. Parkin check him out, University of Sussex, (q.v. John Maynard Smith) criticises the previous piece, and Sheldrake generally. Makes previous criticisms Vague (tick), . Questions why Sheldrake is selling so well, provides suggestion otherwise than "it is true". Also Laurie Smith (probably not the Sheriff) argues that Sheldrake's ideas undermine free will and moral responsibility. A cartoon by Harpun? showing a dishevelled man angrily demanding "look here Sheldrake I'm a genuine scientist" to a giant (shell)duck
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Miscellany at large Hinde, Robert A. The Guardian	17 Dec 1985: 12.	in response to Shearer's piece, Robert Hinde suggests a mechanistic explanation of how blue tits can open milk bottle tops.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: The double-edged sword of nuclear secrecy at Dounreay Pethebridge, Denis. The Guardian	27 Dec 1985: 10.	Lorna M. Marsden supports Sheldrake with some psychology-philosophy. Doesn't appear to be Lorna Marsden but a woman from York, Yorkshire rather than Canada. No apparent academic credentials, can't really use.
Archeopteryx withdraws his support: BODY AND SOUL Inglis, Brian. The Guardian	28 May 1986: 13.	Brian Inglis reviews Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, disses Darwin, promotes Lamarck and ... Rupert Sheldrake.
Preview The believer and the sceptic Cape, Jonathan. The Guardian	18 June 1986: 11.	Dialogue between Lewis Wolpert (the sceptic) and Brian Inglis (the believer). Wolpert identifies Sheldrake's ideas with vitalism.
Quantum leap from science to the supernatural: SECOND OPINION Josephson, Brian. The Guardian	16 July 1986: 13.	Brian Josephson defends Inglis and attacks Wolpert. Quotable quote: "My opinion is that, as far as matters of principle are concerned, quantum physics supports Brian Inglis's position more than it does of Professor Wolpert". Also identifies Sheldrake with David Bohm.
Knowing ways Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	30 July 1986: 13.	Sheldrake on collective memory tests of Hebrew.
The tree of knowledge Wolpert, Lewis. The Guardian	24 Dec 1986: 9	On mysticism and anti-science in general, a little bit specifically on Sheldrake: "some [ideas] like Sheldrake's idea of morphic resonance are so widely publicised that it is necessary to give them the attention they do not deserve". Links paranormal, anti-science and vitalism.
FACE TO FAITH: Lorna Marsden The Guardian	12 Jan 1987: 7.	Lorna Marsden (again the one from York we came across before not the Canadian woman), identifying herself as a Quaker, criticises Wolpert for criticising anti-science and "dismissing without examination Sheldrake's credible hypothesis of "morphic resonance" with apparently no r[e]alisation of its implications in religious, philosophical or psychological terms". Echoes previous letter.
A holistic sense of place in the quagmire of history The Guardian	19 Aug 1987: 11.	Quotable quote: "Rupert Sheldrake ... whose works have become required reading for New Agers"
In the nature of language gender matters: BODY AND SOUL Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	23 Sep 1987: 15	muddled diatribe on language. This appears to be Sheldrake's first "muddled diatribe" in the "Body and soul" column.
LETTERS: The language of nations Evans, David. The Guardian	30 Sep 1987: 13.	Sebastian Kramer on how nations are he or she especially during wars.
Black hales in the cosmos Evans, Dave. The Guardian (1959-2003)	07 Oct 1987: 13.	Machine typo - actually "black holes". Dave Evans, Bath Uni. Not very interesting.
Mental program: BODY AND SOUL Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	21 Oct 1987: 15	Sheldrake on materialism of the mind being a function of the brain.
Programs and perfection Brindley, Norman. The Guardian	11 Nov 1987: 15.	Criticism of Sheldrake's piece above by Norma Brindley, and Geoff Simons
A reconciliation of Mother Russia and Uncle Sam: BODY AND SOUL Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	18 Nov 1987: 15.	Sheldrake on Cold War politics and propaganda
Into the grotto Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	16 Dec 1987: 13.	Sheldrake on Shamans
God and Darwin Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	13 Jan 1988: 13.	Sheldrake on "(neo)-Darwinism" as a religion
Myth taken Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	10 Feb 1988: 13.	Sheldrake on the mythology of Margaret Thatcher by way of analogy with Boudica
Begging the eternal world-machine: Body and Soul Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	09 Mar 1988: 21.	Sheldrake on the mutability of natural laws.
Resonace (sic) of memory: Body and soul Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	06 Apr 1988: 21.	Gruaniad typo. Sheldrake on memories not living inside brains.
Radars of the lost theory Naughton, John. The Observer	10 Apr 1988: 31.	A mini recap review of The Presence of the Past. Claims Maddox advocated incineration (which he didn't, at least not quite)
Some facts that just don't resonate: Second opinion Rose, Steven. The Guardian	13 Apr 1988: 27	Steven Rose attacks Sheldrake, generally, and specifically on his 6 April piece.
The chick and egg of morphic resonance: Second Opinion Leader, David P; Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	20 Apr 1988: 23.	Actually two letters: from Sheldrake responding to last week's second opinion by Steven Rose. from David P. Leader of Glasgow University (check him out) is generally supportive of Rose but questions the perpetuation of the myth that Maddox ever advocated burning Sheldrake's book.
Why a Church supporters club is not beyond belief: Terms of reference Taylor, Geoffrey. The Guardian	25 Apr 1988: 18.	Geoffrey Taylor on religion.
No proof that the brain is tuned in: Letters Humphrey, Philip. The Guardian	27 Apr 1988: 23.	Steven Rose asks Sheldrake to get his facts straight from previous letter (20 April). The Gruaniad manages to misspell Rose's first name(!). a letter from Alison Prince, somewhat sympathetic, offering her own view as an expert, erm, children's author. Philip Humphrey offers a poem on morphic resonance, asks Sheldrake to prove MR is not a tautology.
Memory over matter: Body and Soul Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	04 May 1988: 21	More of the same
A bum note in morphic resonance: Letter Malachowski, Alan. The Guardian	11 May 1988: 23.	Alan Malachowski, a South African philosopher, on Sheldrake's latest "muddled diatribe". Is particularly nasty.
The seats of power: Body and Soul Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	01 June 1988: 21.	more
Little men on the brain: Body and Soul Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	06 July 1988: 23.	even more
Orbital dreams Woolley, Benjamin. The Guardian	22 July 1988: 25	A review of a book by Sir Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe, in which Benjamin Woolley contextualises the authors' idea's lack of standing in science by admitting that "they're not in the Rupert "morphic resonance" Sheldrake or Jim "Gaia" Lovelock league."
Birds of a feather, but the koo-kuk sounds cuckoo to me: Terms of reference Taylor, Geoffrey. The Guardian	25 July 1988: 18.	Geoffrey Taylor praises Sheldrake.
Forget women priests: bring on the priestess Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	05 Sep 1988: 39	MD
Letters to the Editor: Antipodean attitudes to nuclear issues Jones, Phillip. The Guardian	17 Sep 1988: 18.	Anna Baker mentions Sheldrake as a scientist (she is trying to bridge the gap between art and science), not relevant.
Getting those good vibrations Severe depression The Observer	07 May 1989: 36.	A piece about Mrs Sheldrake, Jill Purce.
A matter of chance or destiny The Observer	24 Dec 1989: 25.	The Observer tries with the Koestler project to find ESP. Brian Inglis again.
College for the age of ecology: Walter Schwarz on the arrival of a college aiming far beyond intellectual inquiry Schwarz, Walter. The Guardian	29 June 1990: 30.	Walter Schwartz on Schumacher College, where RS will teach a course.
The rebirth of Mother Earth Schwarz, Walter. The Guardian	07 Jan 1991: 33.	Walter Schwartz on "The Rebirth of Nature" book.
Watching Brief Turner, Francesca. The Guardian	08 Mar 1991: 40.	Francesca Turner on
Destructive devilry among the milk bottle tops: Terms of reference Taylor, Geoffrey. The Guardian	22 July 1991: 18.	More blue tits and milk bottle tops from Geoffrey Taylor, who is supportive! Found one!!!
The mystical monk: Elspeth Thompson on Matthew Fox, a Dominican friar from California, who is tipped to revolutionise the way we worship. Illustration by Geoff Grandfield Thompson, Elspeth. The Guardian	28 Sep 1991: A36.	Eslpeth Thompson on Matthew Fox. Says Sheldrake is a mystic - hence mysticism.
Faith, heresy and the fight for Eden Schwarz, Walter. The Guardian	27 Dec 1991: 25.	New Agers v common sense
The quest for the miracle machine Schwarz, Walter. The Guardian	21 Mar 1992: 27.	REview of Graham Hancock's "The Ark of the Covenant"
Great hoax from little circles grow: Rupert Sheldrake introduces the first corn circle competition, which carries a £3,000 prize Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	08 May 1992: 27.	Sheldrake wants crop circles that are manmade to act as controls to try to detect those that aren't manmade.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Anorexia as self-defence Donelan, Michael. The Guardian	04 July 1992: 28	John Lock (arts council) praising Sheldrake.
Lords of the avant-garde rings: John Vidal previews the cereal thriller Vidal, John. The Guardian	10 July 1992: 29.	More crop circles
A field day for the sceptics: Eco soundings Vidal, John. The Guardian	17 July 1992: 27.	Crop circles are not beyond capabilities of humans.
Bishop Spong's spirited Easter sermon Schwarz, Walter. The Guardian	02 Apr 1994: 27	Walter Schwartz reviews Sheldrake's Seven Experiments and John Spong's Resurrection: Myth or Reality?. Also claims Nature called for ANSOL to be burned (which it didn't, (well not quite)).
New clues to mysteries of the mind Sheldrake, Rupert. The Guardian	14 May 1994: 32	Face to Faith muddled diatribe.
TELEVISION Hanging out with the wackos The Observer	24 July 1994: C25.	Andrew Anthony is not particularly impressed by Sheldrake's performance in the Heretic documentary. Suggests that Sheldrake is "on the fringes, where the wackos hang out". Also (incorrectly) suggests book burning.
Heresy at stake Rose, Steven. The Guardian	08 Sep 1994: B11.	Rose criticises the Heretic documentary. Notes that Wolpert refused to participate in the documentary.
Normal wisdom Billen, Andrew. The Observer	03 Dec 1995: C15.	Pun on Norman Wisdom - Andrew Billen reviews Nicholas Humphrey's book Soul Searching, covering the fantastic ability of some people, even intellectuals, to believe in things for which there is no evidence such as souls.
More instalments of Gullible's Travels Morgan, Michael. The Guardian	18 Apr 1996: B9.	Michael J. Morgan FRS briefly describes Sheldrake's "theory of morphic resonance as completely wrong" but doesn't go into detail.
A message on wings of desire Foden, Giles. The Guardian	21 Nov 1996: C2.	Giles Foden on Sheldrake and Fox's book The Physics of Angels
Astro turf: The rise of mystic astronomy Spencer, Neil. The Observer	23 Mar 1997: 142.	Neil Spencer. Sheldrake doesn't like "the way the heavens have been secularised and mechanised". Going back to pre-Copernician times then.
Jackdaw: Barfology Pool, Hannah. The Guardian	17 July 1997: 18.	Relaying a piece from the Fortean Times on psychic staring effect
Hello, Galileo: Jay Griffiths on the academy for green gurus Griffiths, Jay. The Guardian	20 Aug 1997: B4	Piece on New Age Schumacher College.
No new leash of life Ronson, Jon. The Guardian	29 Nov 1997: B11.	Jon Ronson on a superficial piece about Bob the Dog Starer.
How long was your dog in the window? The Observer	17 May 1998: 19.	Martin Wroe reports uncritically on a paper to be published in a certain "Italian Journal" by Sheldrake that shows telepathy.
IT MUST BE LOVE...: Why else would a dog be treated to such luxuries as a Paul Smith bowl a Campari soda and its own petgoldfish ? Mock not, says Jon Ronson, this is an affair of metaphysical communication we're dealing with here The Guardian	26 Feb 2000: C20.	Jon Ronson reports on the work of "Professor Rupert Sheldrake" and his telepathic dogs.