Episode 64

The sixth of several episodes in which I'm talking about (among other things) symbiosis and mutualism in the natural world with Jim Penny of the Oxford Botanic Garden. We continue discussing Richard Dawkins, including his anti-religion campaigning, his dealings with Rupert Sheldrake, and the issue of "scientism", before getting into subtle perceptual biases within the life sciences.

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Some relevant links:

• memes
• memetics
• Richard Dawkins
• R. Dawkins, The God Delusion (Bantam, 2006)
• Rupert Sheldrake
• The Enemies of Reason (TV documentary)
• Sheldrake's account of the encounter with Dawkins
• scientism
• organised skeptics' response to Sheldrake being invited to speak at Canterbury Christchurch University
• Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home
• Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)