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爱因斯坦对人性的洞察

在爱因斯坦与他的挚友、哲学系学生莫里斯·索洛维纳的通信中,人们发现了关于爱因斯坦思维过程的详细描述。一天,索洛维纳提议一起阅读和探讨伟大作家的作品。爱因斯坦欣然同意,不久之后,数学家康拉德·哈比希特也加入了这个后来被称为“奥林匹亚学院”的团体。他们经常在爱因斯坦的公寓里聚会,一直持续到凌晨,三人一边吃着煮鸡蛋,一边抽着烟斗和雪茄,讨论着各种问题。
他们感兴趣的话题之一是思考和信仰。我们如何思考?我们为什么会相信我们所相信的?爱因斯坦凭直觉就知道思考是推测性的,个人的信仰和理论会扭曲我们的观察。他曾开玩笑地说:“如果事实与你的理论不符,那就改变你的事实。”
爱因斯坦解释说,从心理学角度来看,我们的信念和公理都建立在我们的经验之上。然而,经验与公理之间并不存在逻辑上的直接联系,而仅仅是一种基于我们对经验的诠释的直觉联系,这种诠释总是随时可能被推翻。这些诠释塑造了我们的信念和感知,进而决定了我们对世界的理论。最终,我们的理论决定了我们对世界的观察,而矛盾的是,我们只会观察那些证实我们理论的事物,这又进一步强化了我们的信念和公理。
古代天文学家曾认为天体永恒,由以太构成。这种理论使他们无法观测到来自外太空的流星,也无法将其视为燃烧的石头。尽管古人目睹了流星雨,并在地面上发现了流星,但他们却无法将其识别为来自外太空的流星。他们只寻找并观测那些能够证实他们关于天体的理论的事物。
我们就像古代的天文学家一样,只积极寻找那些能够证实我们关于自身和世界的信仰和理论的信息。信教的人处处都能看到上帝创造的证据;而无神论者则处处都能看到上帝不存在的证据。保守派处处都能看到自由主义的罪恶,而自由派处处都能看到保守主义的罪恶。事实上,你根本不需要看福克斯新闻或MSNBC,因为你已经知道他们在任何政治问题上的立场了。
我们很多人都被教导说,信念是理性思考的结果,理性思考让我们了解了信息,然后我们选择相信或不相信。但实际上,你的信念是由你对自身经历的主观解读塑造的。当你思考某件事时,你会觉得这些想法除了提供信息之外没有其他作用,然后你选择去做某件事。但实际上,你的思考方式和思考内容是由你对自身和生活的认知所决定的。思想对你的控制远超你的想象。
女人头上顶着的是什么?当心理学家向东非人展示这幅素描时,几乎所有参与者都认为她头上顶着一个盒子或罐子。当游牧民族看到这幅素描时,他们描述说一家人坐在树下。西方人则认为这家人坐在室内,并将女人头顶的矩形解读为一扇窗户,透过窗户可以看到灌木丛。不同的文化由于不同的经历,对这幅画的解读也各不相同。
我们会在不知不觉中自动解读所有经历。它们是好的经历还是坏的经历?它们意味着什么?等等。我们很少思考这些解读的意义,甚至根本不去思考。例如,如果有人撞到你,你会想知道为什么。她撞到你这件事本身是中性的,没有任何意义。是你对这次碰撞的解读赋予了它意义,而这种意义又塑造了你对这段经历的感知。
你或许会把这“碰撞”解读为粗鲁的行为。你或许会认为她是故意挑衅,或者你觉得自己微不足道,所以才故意忽略你,任由别人撞来撞去。你或许会觉得人行道的设计不合理,无法应对如此大的人流量,导致人们互相碰撞,又或许你会把它当作自己粗心大意的反例。你或许会选择将这次经历视为女权主义攻击的政治例证,又或许你会把这碰撞解读为她向你调情的方式。你对这次经历的解读决定了你的感知。
想象一下,一群好奇的蜜蜂落在教堂的窗户上。每只蜜蜂都透过不同的彩色玻璃窗凝视着教堂内部。一只蜜蜂眼中的教堂内部全是红色,另一只蜜蜂眼中的教堂内部全是黄色,以此类推。蜜蜂无法直接体验教堂内部,它们只能看到。它们永远无法触摸、闻到或以任何方式与之互动。如果蜜蜂会说话,它们最终会争论教堂内部的颜色。每只蜜蜂都会坚持自己的说法,无法理解其他蜜蜂是通过不同的彩色玻璃窗看到的。当我们与人争论某个理论或信仰时,情况也是如此。双方都透过自己对经验的彩色玻璃窗式解读来看待问题。
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Friend May 23, 2012

The presence of an absence is not the absence of a Presence. If God is an objective Reality, this Reality would necessarily reveal Itself irrespective of beliefs / interpretation. The article is built on Albert Einstein's wisdom; Einstein believed in God. Regardless of the interpretation one ascribes to a bump from someone on the street, the bump still happened. The innate significance of these events -"synchronicities"- patterns forever at play, are too statistically significant to dismiss as chance. Life is imbued with a level of meaning -a Divine narrative- that precedes interpretation and repeatedly defies purely materialistic views of existence.

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Noor a.f May 23, 2012
the beliefs, it is possible there are a lot of things we have different views. However, I check many sources and why they look very much overrated is a way of looking attention and ideas. I learned people don't give attention unless words surprise. So don't take serious my comments am not that bad. People who I displayed the comments didn't know me and couldn't charge my dignity. They would only say their views and I would continue from their view to help me if what believe was real. What I believe are not the comments but they relate and people only give attention if I make it harsh or kind or stupid e.t.c.  And commentors don't know me but if someone who knows me sees the comments, can seem so stupid. So I can tell you, take it very easy esp the one on the woman who spoke up on actions. There were urgent actions so there was a need for the authorities to teach a lesson the woman, thief and money launderer who may be got a reason of saving the money because the boy was an enemy.I can... [View Full Comment]
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Noor a.f May 23, 2012
very wise ideas. I agree this 99.5%. but I was called from a place I only liked to be as a respectful law abiding citizen. If that cause relates the group I really can't put on with. but if it is about the stories I wrote there is no painful thing as I have the prove of the 3m. I know people of L are very much respected and they have a lot of power.What I ask is a man who sleeps late for his rightful entitlements is what another one may see as impoverishing. So when that is accounted and another report said many of west teens are joining porn industries I think those teens even need 9m compared  Sub-sahara ones who only 2  times a week pay one 50 sometimes they don't pay any a whole one or two months.I really respect authorities and I don't like to argue with any of them. I am looking other ways of doing something different so that the store doesn't continue anymore.I liked wisely written ideas of today because I couldn't control my feelings and the fear I felt.Thank you. ... [View Full Comment]