The Hardest Questions: What is… Truth… Love & Other Questions…
The Hardest Questions: What is… Truth… Love & Other Questions…
A challenging article in BigThink starts with this lead-in: "The hardest question ever asked: What is truth? Scientists believe they have the answer, but philosophers prove them wrong."
The article lists several other questions that science cannot answer like: Does your family really love you? Why is there hatred in the world? What is the purpose of life?
We live in a world that is viewed as materialistic and mechanistic – with solvable, predictable answers through propositions, theories and mathematical equations.
Does philosophy and religion and faith have a say in all this?
Let's test my thinking (and bias). What human phenomenon is most prevalent in every society, country and city on the planet?
Yes, you guessed right. Love!
Problem is, “love” doesn't exist! Not according to scientists anyway, as it is not quantifiable - not measurable. Or is it? Just not in a test tube or test bench.
But the human heart with all its “non-science” - with all its miscalculations, knows there is a substance called "love". Let’s look at some “non-science” sources that articulate the best solution to our planet – to preserve its beauty, heal its wounds and stop the evil.
On Love and Other Things
“Love is a better teacher than duty.” - Albert Einstein
“For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.” - Carl Sagan
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
“The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.”- Helen Keller
“You know you’re in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” - Dr. Seuss
“One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.” - Sophocles
"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get–only with what you are expecting to give–which is everything." - Katharine Hepburn.
"Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eternal...these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13
“Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey.” - Lord Byron
“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.” - William W. Purkey
“The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.” - Blaise Pascal
“We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
God is love, and those who live in love live in union with God and God lives in union with them. - 1 John 4:16
“Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.” - Lao Tzu
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” - Marcus Aurelius
There is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:31
But God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great. - Ephesians 2:4
Can science prove me wrong on this? By the way, I do love the sciences and I have spent many years in the field of science. It’s not philosophy or faith or science. We need everyone to work together to help optimise and liberate our planet!
So, in conclusion, I want to make the plea stated in the BigThink article.
"The most meaningful understanding of reality — and therefore, our best attempt to grasp the truth — will happen only when science and philosophy unite. May we all be students of both."
Source: www.bigthink.com