Dialogue with Merlin Sheldrake and Tim Jackson

The Art and Science of Improvisation

I recently had a fascinating conversation with mycologist Merlin Sheldrake and evolutionary toxinologist Tim Jackson. Our discussion revolved around the themes of improvisation, the nature of life, and the interplay between order and chaos in both biology and philosophy.

Merlin shared his insights on improvisation in the context of jazz music, which led us to consider how improvisation is a fundamental aspect of life itself. He described how improvisation isn’t just about creating something new, but also about responding in a contextually relevant way, requiring a certain level of attention or consciousness. This idea resonated with my understanding of Whitehead’s philosophy, where creativity is seen as the basis of existence and improvisation as a fundamental process in the unfolding of the universe.

Tim expanded on this by discussing the role of improvisation at the molecular level, particularly in the context of his research on venom systems and chemical ecology. He emphasized how biochemical molecules, once engaged in novel interactions, can lead to new functions and evolutionary pathways. This process of molecular improvisation, where new functions arise from novel interactions, is a crucial aspect of evolutionary biology.

I raised the possibility of an analogy between improvisational music and the massive cellular coordination project that gives rise to our learning and evolving animal bodies. I mention the work of biologist Richard Watson, whose work you can learn more about at this link.

We also delved into the idea of play and its relationship to improvisation. Merlin suggested that play might be a form of training in improvisation, where organisms, through playful metabolic processes, generate a reservoir of potential that might eventually become useful. This led us to consider the notion that ‘fun precedes function,’ where playful variation could be a precursor to evolutionary adaptation.

Throughout the conversation, we kept returning to the theme of how experience and subjective perception play a role in the improvisatory processes of life. This ties in with Whitehead’s concept of ‘prehensions’ or the way entities experience and incorporate aspects of the world into their existence before deciding how to achieve satisfaction and thus launch themselves into the transcendent future, so as to affect others.

As we discussed cosmology and the origins of the universe, it was suggested that cosmogenesis itself might be an improvisational process. This led to a contemplation of the limits of our knowledge and the mystery inherent in the origins of life and the cosmos.