We seem gradually to be groping toward an understanding of the world of subatomic particles, but we really do not know how far we have yet to go in this task.
Richard P. FeynmanRead
The philosophical question before us is, when we make an observation of our track in the past, does the result of our observation become real in the same sense that the final state would be defined if an outside observer were to make the observation?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the nature of reality and observation, questioning how our perceptions of the past shape our understanding of what is real.
Richard P. Feynman's quote delves into the relationship between observation and reality, suggesting that our understanding of past events may differ from an objective perspective. It challenges us to consider whether our interpretations of experiences truly capture the essence of those moments, or if they are merely subjective constructs shaped by our minds, thus raising deeper philosophical questions about existence and knowledge.
Themes
ObservationRealityPhilosophyPerceptionTruth
In practice
Example use cases
Discussing the nature of reality in a philosophy class.
More from Richard P. Feynman
All quotes βThe first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.
Richard P. FeynmanRead
It has not yet become obvious to me that there's no real problem. I cannot define the real problem; therefore, I suspect there's no real problem, but I'm not sure there's no real problem.
Richard P. FeynmanRead
For far more marvelous is the truth than any artists of the past imagined it. Why do the poets of the present not speak of it? What men are poets who can speak of Jupiter if he were a man, but if he is an immense spinning sphere of methane and ammonia must be silent?
Richard P. FeynmanRead
Science is a way to teach how something gets to be known, what is not known, to what extent things are known (for nothing is known absolutely), how to handle doubt and uncertainty, what the rules of evidence are, how to think about things so that judgments can be made, how to distinguish truth from fraud, and from show.
Richard P. FeynmanRead
We do not know what the rules of the game are; all we are allowed to do is to watch the playing. Of course, if we watch long enough, we may eventually catch on to a few of the rules. The rules of the game are what we mean by fundamental physics.
Richard P. FeynmanRead
Similar quotes
Why I oppose the nuclear-arms race: I prefer the human race.
Edward AbbeyRead
Identity is a prison you can never escape, but the way to redeem your past is not to run from it, but to try to understand it, and use it as a foundation to grow.
Jay-ZRead
Anyone who believes you can't change history has never tried to write his memoirs.
David Ben-GurionRead
I do not know if it has ever been noted before that one of the main characteristics of life is discreteness. Unless a film of flesh envelopes us, we die. Man exists only insofar as he is separated from his surroundings. The cranium is a space-traveler's helmet. Stay inside or you perish. Death is divestment, death is communion. It may be wonderful to mix with the landscape, but to do so is the end of the tender ego.
Vladimir NabokovRead
In the game of thrones, even the humblest pieces can have wills of their own. Sometimes they refuse to make the moves you've planned for them.
George R. R. MartinRead
Mythological symbols touch and exhilarate centers of life beyond the reach of vocabularies of reason and coercion.
Joseph CampbellRead