Quote by Alan Lightman, Einstein
In this acausal world, scientists are helpless. Their predictions become postdictions- Their equations become justifications, their logic, illogic. Scientists turn reckless and mutter like gamblers who cannot stop betting. Scientists are buffoons, not because they are rational but because the cosmos is irrational. Or perhaps it is not because the cosmos is irrational but because they are rational. Who can say which, in an acausal world?
Summary
This quote suggests that in an acausal world, where cause and effect are unpredictable, scientists are rendered powerless. Their attempts to make predictions are merely explanations after the fact, their equations are used to justify outcomes, and their attempts at logic become illogical. This leads to scientists acting recklessly, constantly making uncertain bets and unable to stop. The quote questions whether scientists appear foolish because the cosmos is inherently irrational, or if it is their own rationality that clashes with the unpredictable nature of the world. Ultimately, it suggests that in an acausal world, this distinction may be impossible to determine.
Topics
Science
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