The Myth of the 21-Gram Soul: Duncan MacDougall's Experiment
The belief that the human soul weighs 21 grams originates from early 20th-century experiments by Dr. Duncan MacDougall. He devised a bed-scale to weigh six dying patients before and after death, claiming a consistent loss of 21 grams, which he attributed to the soul leaving the body. The New York Times published his findings before academic journals, embedding the number in popular culture. MacDougall also tested dogs, finding no weight change, which he used to argue animals lack souls. The scientific community criticized his work for violating the principle of parsimony and lacking rigor. Despite this, the 21-gram figure persists in music, film (notably Alejandro González Iñárritu's 21 Grams), and literature.
Key facts
- Duncan MacDougall conducted experiments in the early 1900s.
- He used a bed-scale to weigh six dying patients.
- MacDougall claimed a weight loss of 21 grams at death.
- The New York Times reported his findings.
- He also weighed dogs and found no change.
- The scientific community rejected his methodology.
- The 21-gram concept appears in Iñárritu's film 21 Grams.
- The experiment is referenced in music, novels, and films.
Entities
Artists
- Alejandro González Iñárritu
- William Blake
- William-Adolphe Bouguereau
- Miguel Ángel
Institutions
- New York Times
- Psicología y Mente