Today, for the much aspired ‘peace and change for the betterment,’ the world sticks its hopes to the realms of science, technology, and other paraphernalia of mind and intellect. To what extent these hopes can be answered- this can be comprehended from the facts, which are well documented and recorded in the pages of history.
HOW FAR ARE THESE REALMS CAPABLE?
After the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it was as if the stage was all set for relentless destruction and devastation. Einstein could sense the gravity of the situation and was perhaps ‘regretfully’ concerned, having played one of the prime roles in the making of the atomic bomb through the Manhattan Project.
This concern reflects from the letters that he exchanged with Sigmund Freud in 1932, through which he tried to hunt for the way out to prevent the occurrence of WWII. In the first letter, he expressed his worry in these words to the psychologist, “This is the problem: Is there any way of delivering from the menace of war?” He wished to check from the then world’s leading psychoanalyst, if psychology can propose any ‘panacea’ to the problem that aimed at the destruction of peace from the fabric of mankind. Verily, an iconic scientist like Einstein must have had this subtle realization that ‘material science’ lacks on this front. That’s why he stated in his letter- “It would be the greatest service to us all were you to present the problem of world peace in the light of your most recent discoveries, for such a presentation might blaze the trail for new and fruitful modes of action.”
Freud’s reply mentioned- “… there is no likelihood of our being able to suppress humanity’s aggressive tendencies.”
Freud’s answer too clearly highlighted the incapability of psychology in dealing with the subject of preventing war and ensuring peace in the world. However, still, the psychiatrists and psychologists from world over were inspired from this discussion, perhaps to prove the forte of their stream. In 1935, from thirty countries, nearly three hundred representatives of psychiatry signed a manifesto on “war prevention.” In this manifesto, the signatories boldly expressed- “We psychiatrists declare that our science is sufficiently advanced for us to distinguish between real, pretended, and unconscious motives, even in statesmen.” However, these tall claims fizzled out soon after a big convention of psychologists was held in Paris in 1937. …
As far as aspirations from the world of technology are concerned, then Roger Penrose, a mathematical physicist and philosopher of science, unequivocally remarks- “With thought compromising a non-computational element, computers can never do what we human beings can.”
Therefore, questioning the capability of science and technology itself, Nick Herbert, a physicist, clearly writes in his book ‘Quantum Reality”- “Science’s biggest mystery is the nature of consciousness. It is not that we possess bad or imperfect theories of human awareness; we simply have no such theories at all.”
Are these realms reliable?...
What is the final resort?...
To know this and furthermore, read the complete article in Nov’18 edition of English Akhand Gyan Monthly Magazine.
