EVERYTHING IS AN ILLUSION

josephpalazzo · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject: EVERYTHING IS AN ILLUSION

Even thinking it's not an illusion IS an illusion.

There are illusions tho' that are more useful than others -- like believing there is a real world. That can help you in choosing which pair of shoes you'll wear for the day...

Razz

Dawkadoodle · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:41 pm Post subject:

No.

Illusion is a very subjective term, you'll have to define it (optical, other sensory, etc) first regardless.

josephpalazzo · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject:

Even your "no" is an illusion...

Dawkadoodle · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:44 pm Post subject:

Wickedtruth · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:44 pm Post subject:

"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."

"Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."

Albert seems to agree with you!

Raskolnikov · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:49 pm Post subject:

What do you mean by "illusion"?
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FlatEarth1024 · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject:

Instead of "illusion", might it not be more accurate to say that reality is simply a manifestation of individual perception? Society at large tends to agree upon an accepted 'way things are', but since each individual can only act according to his own ability to process information and react to stimuli, ultimately doesn't reality boil down to however the individual perceives it?

We might be saying the same thing, Joe, but I'm not sure I'd use the word illusion to describe it.
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josephpalazzo · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:12 pm Post subject:

josephpalazzo · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

josephpalazzo · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:15 pm Post subject:

Dawkadoodle · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:17 pm Post subject:

Mr_C · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:33 pm Post subject:

"Joe hasn't taken his meds today...take the blue pill, Joe..."

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josephpalazzo · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:50 pm Post subject:

Wickedtruth · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

I like it when physicists start talking about indian philosophy. Here is an excerpt from Knowledge of reality magazine...

article is entitled "Einstein's search & the illusion of reality"....

"The more we explore these "new science' avenues, the more illusory our universe seems to be. I feel that we must again look at some Eastern concepts because they seem to be more and more relevant as we explore the mysteries of "new' science. The more I have reflected on the meaning of the "new' science of quantum, relativity and chaos, the more it has reminded me of the ancient Indian traditional concept of Maya.

Maya is quite a difficult concept to define in simple terms. I envisage it as a multi- layered web of illusion. The deeper one goes into the web, the more intricate and tangled the illusion becomes. It applies, I feel, to the latest scientific exploration of the physical world. Until the "new' science, we have only been scratching around on the surface of this Maya. As we go deeper into it, the bizarre twists and turns seem to push the answers further from our grasp. When we confront this web of illusion, it takes us closer to the boundaries of human awareness. We realise even more that the explanations of the infinite cannot be attained using finite means. (see Godel's theorem later in this chapter.) "

"It strikes me that this is a situation very much in keeping with Godel's theorem. Intellectuals can delve into the most intricate, complicated theorems and calculations, but they will never understand the "big picture' from within the confines of their "rational perspective'. It is only when they step outside the world of the "physical illusion' that the "web of Maya' will begin to lift.

Sages and seers in ancient times who spoke of the spiritual side of nature, gained their insight by moving beyond the confines of the rational physical world. In a similar way to the principles of Godel's theorem, the ancient mystics gained access by deep meditation to a perspective beyond the physical, in order to attain a more complete picture of the physical realm. "

Whole article here http://www.sol.com.au/kor/11_01.htm

Since I admit that I know jack shit about physics, I have no idea if any of that stuff is accurate. I'm just happy to see indian philosophy get sum luvin!

josephpalazzo · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

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