Wise Scientists 11 Bernard Carr
45m | Sep 2, 2026Philosopher-physicist Ravi Ravindra notes that according to all the sages, there are many levels of reality subtler than the mind. So, any enterprise wholly driven by the mind—including science, philosophy, and theology—cannot connect with these subtler levels of reality. In order to relate with these subtle levels one needs to rely on direct perception, not on thought. Hence, the need to open up and enhance the quality of perception and being among scientists. Then they are more likely to attain knowledge which is closer to wisdom. A wise scientist is interested in truth - which is a subtle combination of knowledge and compassion.
In this Wise Scientists podcast series, introduced by David Lorimer, Ravi engages in dialogue with leading scientists about the need for more wisdom in society in general, and specifically among scientists due to its cultural power and influence as well as the speed of current technological developments, for instance in AI.
In this episode they talk with Bernard Carr who is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Queen Mary University of London. For his PhD he studied the first second of the universe with Stephen Hawking at Cambridge University and Caltech. He then held Research Fellowships at Trinity College and the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge before moving to Queen Mary in 1985. He has also held Visiting Professorships at various institutes in America, Canada and Japan. His professional area of research is cosmology and astrophysics and includes such topics as the early universe, black holes, dark matter and the anthropic principle. He is the author of around 300 papers and the books Universe or Multiverse? and Quantum Black Holes. He is very interested in the role of consciousness, regarding this as a fundamental rather than incidental feature of the Universe, and he is developing a new physical paradigm, which accommodates normal, paranormal and mystical experiences. He also has a long-standing interest in the relationship between science and religion and views psychical research as forming a bridge between them. He is President of the Scientific and Medical Network and a former President of the Society for Psychical Research.
https://www.qmul.ac.uk/spcs/staff/emeritus-staff/profiles/bjcarr.html
Production: Martin Redfern, https://www.beaconhillbroadcast.com/home
Music: Time Flies by Roman Senyk
