BACK in January, London’s Royal Society of Arts hosted a notable debate. On one side was renowned developmental biologist Lewis Wolpert; on the other, biochemist-turned-parapsychologist Rupert Sheldrake. At issue was the existence, or not, of the paranormal.
Sheldrake presented reams of evidence to the packed audience. Wolpert dismissed it all as “pathological science”. Sheldrake pointed out that millions of rational people believe they have had a paranormal experience. Wolpert countered that parapsychologists lack any plausible explanation for their findings. It was clear the audience saw Wolpert as no more than a killjoy. Here, in microcosm, was the present state of…
