I Am Now Convinced That Theoretical Physics

There Are Two Objectionable Types Of Believers: Those Who Believe The Incredible And Those Who Believe That 'belief' Must Be Discarded And Replaced By 'the Scientific Method.

I Have Tried To Read Philosophers Of All Ages And Have Found Many Illuminating Ideas But No Steady Progress Toward Deeper Knowledge And Understanding. Science, However, Gives Me The Feeling Of Steady Progress: I Am Convinced That Theoretical Physics Is Actual Philosophy. It Has Revolutionized Fundamental Concepts, E.g., About Space And Time (relativity), About Causality (quantum Theory), And About Substance And Matter (atomistics), And It Has Taught Us New Methods Of Thinking (complementarity) Which Are Applicable Far Beyond Physics.

Something Which Is Against Natural Laws Seems To Me Rather Out Of The Question Because It Would Be A Depressive Idea About God. It Would Make God Smaller Than He Must Be Assumed. When He Stated That These Laws Hold, Then They Hold, And He Wouldn't Make Exceptions. This Is Too Human An Idea. Humans Do Such Things, But Not God.

During My Span Of Life Science Has Become A Matter Of Public Concern And The L'art Pour L'art Standpoint Of My Youth Is Now Obsolete. Science Has Become An Integral And Most Important Part Of Our Civilization, And Scientific Work Means Contributing To Its Development. Science In Our Technical Age Has Social, Economic, And Political Functions, And However Remote One's Own Work Is From Technical Application It Is A Link In The Chain Of Actions And Decisions Which Determine The Fate Of The Human Race. I Realized This Aspect Of Science In Its Full Impact Only After Hiroshima.

But In Practical Affairs, Particularly In Politics, Men Are Needed Who Combine Human Experience And Interest In Human Relations With A Knowledge Of Science And Technology.