Throughout the centuries, scholars and scientists have tried to understand the true nature of reality, beyond what appears to our senses. Different thinkers, however, have approached this question from different angles and, consequently, have answered the question in a multitude of ways. It is worthwhile to explore these here, so that we get a clearer sense of what is at stake. This second module explores the concepts of appearance and reality from the points of view of Western philosophy, Buddhism, and modern physics. By discussing the development and evolution of scientific thought throughout the centuries, in this module Dr. Michel Bitbol argues that the view of reality presented by quantum physics is in alignment with the understanding of Buddhist philosophy.
Lesson 1 of this module explores the development of the concepts of appearance and reality in ancient Greek and European philosophy, and their role in the evolution of scientific thought. This lesson summarises the fundamental stages of this development, starting with Plato and other ancient Greek philosophers, and continuing with more recent European philosophers (such as Kant and Husserl) and the birth of modern science.
Lesson 2 focuses on the important role played by the concepts of appearance and reality in both Buddhism and modern science, although these are to be understood in complementary ways by two different schools of thought. Science describes fundamental reality as a series of patterns that are hidden beyond appearances and that can often be described by mathematical laws. By contrast, Buddhist philosophy suggests that our perception of reality is distorted by the superimposition of artificial structures and labels onto experience. In this module and throughout the course, you will learn how the latter view is in alignment with contemporary interpretations of quantum mechanics, such as Christopher Fuchs’ QBism and Carlo Rovelli’s relational interpretation of reality – both discussed below.
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