Quantum physics thus reveals a basic oneness of the universe.
There is no kind of framework within which we can find consciousness in the plural; this is simply something we construct because of the temporal plurality of individuals, but it is a false construction... The only solution to this conflict insofar as any is available to us at all lies in the ancient wisdom of the Upanishad.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Schrödinger reflects on the illusion of collective consciousness and suggests that understanding can be found in ancient wisdom.
This quote by Erwin Schrödinger explores the deceptive nature of perceiving consciousness as a collective experience. He argues that our conception of multiple consciousnesses is merely a construct of our perception shaped by individual temporal experiences. Instead, he indicates that genuine insight might be derived from the ancient teachings found in the Upanishads, which offer a deeper understanding of consciousness beyond superficial divisions.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophical discussion about the nature of consciousness, one might quote this to emphasize individual experience.
More from Erwin Schrodinger
All quotes →A careful analysis of the process of observation in atomic physics has shown that the subatomic particles have no meaning as isolated entities, but can only be understood as interconnections between the preparation of an experiment and the subsequent measurement.
I am very astonished that the scientific picture of the real world around me is deficient. It gives a lot of factual information, puts all our experience in a magnificently consistent order, but it is ghastly silent about all and sundry that is really near to our heart, that really matters to us. It cannot tell us a word about red and blue, bitter and sweet, physical pain and physical delight; it knows nothing of beautiful and ugly, good or bad, God and eternity.
Vedanta teaches that consciousness is singular, all happenings are played out in one universal consciousness and there is no multiplicity of selves.
Consciousness is a singular for which there is no plural.
What we observe as material bodies and forces are nothing but shapes and variations in the structure of space.
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