4 ms·
It's interesting that the author of this article regards this as, somehow, evidence that Feynman was "scientific till the end". What I read here is an article a
by swombat 14y ago
It's interesting that the author of this article regards this as, somehow, evidence that Feynman was "scientific till the end". What I read here is an article about a man who so deeply felt love for another human being that he abandoned any rationality on the topic and loved her even long after she was dead, to the exclusion of others.
What's the science in that?
To me, this story illustrates that Feynman was a man of deeper beliefs than most religious people, and what the story illustrates, really, is that there is absolutely no contradiction between having a highly rational, scientific mindset and yet having very deep beliefs that transcend the reductionist scientific mindset that some hardcore atheist propose is "the way forward".
Science and beliefs can coexist perfectly well, as they did in Feynman, Einstein, and many other of our greatest scientists.
- danso 14y agoWell, the clock part is what I consider "scientific". If you had told me that Feynman was so struck by how the clock stopped that he kept the clock enclosed in a crystal box and tattooed "9:21" onto his arm, I might believe you because it's natural to assign meaning to a number and object that would otherwise be unremarkable. In fact, people might do this anyway just to commemorate a moment of death. But when something very unexpected occurs at such a pivotal moment, it is practically irresistable to think it more than coincidence. What would Feynman Lose by just accepting that, in this moment, there appear to be more things between heaven and earth than what science could reveal, especially in matters of love lost? Instead, he took time out of his grief to dispel such a notion. And yet, he loved his wife and her memory as the deepest romantic. The "love" part can exist independently of logical, scientific method...or at leat it did in Feynman's case.
- slurgfest 14y agoWhere in the world did you get the idea that Feynman had beliefs that are irrational or unscientific? Because I read the article and all I could find was sincere feeling. The phrase "hardcore atheist" suggests that you may have some baggage that is clouding your view on what words like rational and scientific mean. They never meant that you can't love somebody or grieve. That isn't even a belief, and it has nothing to do with theological views.
- mistercow 14y ago>Science and beliefs can coexist perfectly well I have no idea what kind of messed up definition of "beliefs" you are using. Of course science and beliefs coexist; science is a process for arriving at accurate beliefs.
- Tichy 14y agoWhy should it be irrational to love somebody after their death? You can still listen inside of you and discover more things about that person - what you missed, what you would wish to do with them now, whatever. I don't think that requires some mystical belief that the dead person's spirit is somehow still around (other than in your own neurons). Humans are no "classical computers", we have emotions and desires built in (for a purpose, but still). It is not necessarily rational trying to suppress those and aiming to become as much as a calculator as possible. You could as well just go for the ride and see where it takes you.
- swombat 14y agoIt is not irrational to love someone after their death, but it is fairly irrational to refuse to love anyone else after your wife dies and it is very irrational to write sealed letters to a dead person. It shows that Feynman was quite willing and able to surrender to irrational behaviour when he wanted to. The difference between Feynman and the superstitious man was not a rejection of things irrational, but a conscious control over when to give in to the irrationality and when to remain scientific. Of course, you might say that this is only sensible - but many people who take a reductionist view ("there is nothing beyond the material") explicitly reject this balance.
- eurleif 14y ago>it is very irrational to write sealed letters to a dead person. It seems irrational when you presume that the only purpose of a letter is to be read by the recipient. But writing a letter can help clarify your own thoughts and feelings, which is a perfectly rational thing to want to do.
- Florin_Andrei 14y agoI think he was a pretty well-rounded human being, as opposed to a one-sided geek. We just remember him for his brilliant mind.