Philosophy &Science Entropy | 29 Oct 2007
Theory of Reality
A human being is part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest.
A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty… The true value of a human being is determined primarily by the measure and the sense in which they have obtained liberation from the self. … We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if humanity is to survive.
- Albert Einstein, 1954
on 29 Oct 2007 at 7:54 pm 1.amelo14 said …
Absolutely pertinent quote. It sounds almost Buddhist! Perhaps what I could say is this. The separation which severed our relation to the world was brought about itself by the emergence of the natural sciences of which Einstein was part. I think that he came to realize the danger of this with the end of World War II and the nuclear attacks on Japan.
I think that the path to such a reconciliation lies not in the natural sciences, but rather in the study of the history of how those natural sciences came about creating a dualistic separation which begins with Descartes. An excellent article on this issue is by the very well-known philosopher Charles Taylor’s “Overcoming Epistemology”. In it he traces the emergence of Einstein’s dilemma.
Andrés
on 30 Oct 2007 at 1:31 am 2.gukseon said …
I love that quote! The only thing I would contest is that the human being is “limited in time and space”—if we are truly connected with all of the universe, and the lines we draw seperating our thoughts and feelings are relative—are “we” not then the complete whole? Can’t we simply say that we are the universe, looking at itself?
on 30 Oct 2007 at 9:27 am 3.Entropy said …
Hello !
Thanks for connecting the dots…
Pl care to read the link to my post may provide insight !!
It is true: Man is the microcosm
I am my World
-Ludwig Wittgenstein
http://mybanyantree.wordpress.com/2007/10/03/ludwig-wittgenstein/
on 02 Nov 2007 at 3:08 pm 4.Nimesh Dadia said …
Dear Lao Aju
THat was immensely moving thought.
Nimesh Dadia