Until recently, it might have seemed that we were an unhappy bit of mildew on a heavenly body whirling in space among many that have no mildew on them at all. this was something that classical science could explain. Yet, the moment it begins to appear that we are deeply connected to the entire universe, science reaches the outer limits of its powers. Because it is founded on the search for universal laws, it cannot deal with singularity, that is, with uniqueness. The universe is a unique event and a unique story, and so far we are the unique point of that story. But unique events and stories are the domain of poetry, not science. With the formulation of the Anthropic Cosmological Principle, science has found itself on the border between formula and story, between science and myth. In that, however, science has paradoxically returned, in a roundabout way, to man, and offers him - in new clothing - his lost integrity. It does so by anchoring him once more in the cosmos.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Science reaches limits when addressing unique existential stories.
- In plain terms
- Science cannot fully explain our unique place in the universe.
- What can you take from it?
- Science needs poetry for unique stories.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Where does science end?
- How does poetry help science?
Another view
Science continues to explain more over time.
More from Vaclav Havel
I think the Anthropic Cosmological Principle brings to us an idea perhaps as old as humanity itself: that we are not at all just an accidental anomaly, the mic…
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Permalink to quote #104 The idea of human rights and freedoms must be an integral part of any meaningful world order. Yet, I think it must be anchored in a different place, and in a d…
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