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What We Know: Feynman's philosophy and other observations on life
In this video (5 minutes) Feynman discusses why he doesn't necessarily believe in God.
"Before Tuva, I didn't have the right words to describe such a visionary guide to the world that controls our everyday world. But now I do: Feynman was a shaman--a shaman of physics." --Ralph Leighton
Advice to his sister on choosing her career:
"Do what you want. Sometimes that isn't possible, because of financial difficulties, prejudice against women, a certain field looks too difficult, etc. Only please don't plan on being mediocre. Then you certainly will not be otherwise. But if you plan on being great you work much harder, and even if you turn out mediocre, you will be a lot better medium than if you hadn't tried for an ideal."
--From Joan Feynman, More of the Good Stuff
"Do what you want. Sometimes that isn't possible, because of financial difficulties, prejudice against women, a certain field looks too difficult, etc. Only please don't plan on being mediocre. Then you certainly will not be otherwise. But if you plan on being great you work much harder, and even if you turn out mediocre, you will be a lot better medium than if you hadn't tried for an ideal."
--From Joan Feynman, More of the Good Stuff
"During the Middle Ages there were all kinds of crazy ideas, such as that a piece of rhinoceros horn would increase potency. Then a method was discovered for separating the ideas--which was to try one to see if it worked and if it didn't work, to eliminate it. This method became organized, of course, into science. And it developed very well, so that we are now in the scientific age. It is such a scientific age, in fact, that we have difficulty in understanding how doctors could ever have existed, when nothing that they proposed ever really worked--or very little of it did.
But even today I meet lots of people who sooner or later get me into a conversation about UFOs, or astrology, or some form of mysticism, expanded consciousness, new types of awareness, ESP, and so forth. And I've concluded that it is not a scientific world.
Most people believe so many wonderful things that I decided to investigate why they did. And what has been referred to as my curiosity for investigation has landed me in a difficulty where I found so much junk that I'm overwhelmed. First I started out by investigating various ideas of mysticism, and mystic experiences. I went into isolation tanks and got many hours of hallucinations, so I know something about that. Then I went to Esalen, which is a hotbed of this kind of thought (it's a wonderful place, you should go visit there.) Then I became overwhelmed. I didn't realize how much there was.
But I began to think, what else is there that we believe? (And I thought then about the witch doctors, and how easy it would have been to check on them by noticing that nothing really worked.)
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself--and you are the easiest person to fool. So you have to be very careful about that. After you've not fooled yourself, it's easy not to fool about other scientists. You just have to be honest in a conventional way after that. "
--from a 1974 Commencement Address at CalTech
Ralph Leighton: " 'Well,' I said, 'those stories you've been telling me when we drum together--there's a certain aspect about them that almost amounts to a philosophy of sorts. We just need to think of a word for it.'
Richard listed topics while I took notes and toyed with possible titles. Faustin Bray, the imaginative force behind the Chief's Esalen experiences, added the proper buzzwords to make the description acceptable for the Esalen catalogue. When she was finished, it said:
Idiosyncratic Thinking
The aim of the week is to help participants develop a unique personal philosophy which can bring peace of mind and enjoyment of life's contradictions.
In science, when we look at common things from some new and unexpected viewpoint, we achieve a new and deeper understanding. When this same approach is applied to personal problems, useful unexpected insights are often realized. This concept will be illustrated in two ways: through discussions of personal human ideas such as doubt, uncertainty, remorse, guilt, responsibility, dignity, and freedom; and by looking at nature as a teacher with these ideas in mind. Participants are invited to contribute their thoughts for discussion in the sessions.
The thinking and experiencing process will be integrated using a blend of esoteric skills, music, visual arts, and fun. You are invited to bring rhythm instruments."
The Experts
"I never pay any attention to anything by 'experts.' I calculate everything myself. When people said the quark theory was pretty good, I got two Ph.D.s, Finn Ravndal and Mark Kislinger, to go through the whole works with me, just so I could check that the thing was really giving results that fit fairly well, and that it was a significantly good theory. I'll never make that mistake again, reading the experts' opinions. Of course, you only live one life, and you make all your mistakes and learn what not to do, and that's the end of you."
--from Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!
But even today I meet lots of people who sooner or later get me into a conversation about UFOs, or astrology, or some form of mysticism, expanded consciousness, new types of awareness, ESP, and so forth. And I've concluded that it is not a scientific world.
Most people believe so many wonderful things that I decided to investigate why they did. And what has been referred to as my curiosity for investigation has landed me in a difficulty where I found so much junk that I'm overwhelmed. First I started out by investigating various ideas of mysticism, and mystic experiences. I went into isolation tanks and got many hours of hallucinations, so I know something about that. Then I went to Esalen, which is a hotbed of this kind of thought (it's a wonderful place, you should go visit there.) Then I became overwhelmed. I didn't realize how much there was.
But I began to think, what else is there that we believe? (And I thought then about the witch doctors, and how easy it would have been to check on them by noticing that nothing really worked.)
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself--and you are the easiest person to fool. So you have to be very careful about that. After you've not fooled yourself, it's easy not to fool about other scientists. You just have to be honest in a conventional way after that. "
--from a 1974 Commencement Address at CalTech
Ralph Leighton: " 'Well,' I said, 'those stories you've been telling me when we drum together--there's a certain aspect about them that almost amounts to a philosophy of sorts. We just need to think of a word for it.'
Richard listed topics while I took notes and toyed with possible titles. Faustin Bray, the imaginative force behind the Chief's Esalen experiences, added the proper buzzwords to make the description acceptable for the Esalen catalogue. When she was finished, it said:
Idiosyncratic Thinking
The aim of the week is to help participants develop a unique personal philosophy which can bring peace of mind and enjoyment of life's contradictions.
In science, when we look at common things from some new and unexpected viewpoint, we achieve a new and deeper understanding. When this same approach is applied to personal problems, useful unexpected insights are often realized. This concept will be illustrated in two ways: through discussions of personal human ideas such as doubt, uncertainty, remorse, guilt, responsibility, dignity, and freedom; and by looking at nature as a teacher with these ideas in mind. Participants are invited to contribute their thoughts for discussion in the sessions.
The thinking and experiencing process will be integrated using a blend of esoteric skills, music, visual arts, and fun. You are invited to bring rhythm instruments."
The Experts
"I never pay any attention to anything by 'experts.' I calculate everything myself. When people said the quark theory was pretty good, I got two Ph.D.s, Finn Ravndal and Mark Kislinger, to go through the whole works with me, just so I could check that the thing was really giving results that fit fairly well, and that it was a significantly good theory. I'll never make that mistake again, reading the experts' opinions. Of course, you only live one life, and you make all your mistakes and learn what not to do, and that's the end of you."
--from Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!