Einstein Baba..

Everybody knows who Albert Einstein was. But a very few might be aware that apart from being a scientist of highest caliber and a Nobel laureate, he was also a wise, clear thinking philosopher. His views on life are a direct extension of his phenomenal work in physics and science in general. Here, he presents his philosophy in the simplest words that can be understood by all. Any person with a little inquisitiveness and original thinking will find something to stop and ponder over in his quotes that follow. Frankly, it surprises me when some people shrug at the mere mention of the word 'philosophy' and assume that their existence has nothing to do with it. Well, if life is a river then philosophy is its flow. Philosophy is not just a subject, it is life and you are living it every moment. How can you be not interested in something when you are in the middle of it?  Anyway. Go through the following quotes. I am sure they will be an interesting and insightful read.


"A human being is part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. The true value of a human being is determined by the measure and the sense in which they have obtained liberation from the self. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if humanity is to survive."

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.There is nothing divine about morality; it is a purely human affair." ( I remember in my article- Conversations With God-  I had put forth this view regarding morality being born and bred in human conscience and not dictated by some imaginary supreme being. Einstein said the same thing. Swell moment :p )
 
"My religiosity consists in a humble admiration of the infinitely superior spirit that reveals itself in the little that we, with our weak and transitory understanding, can comprehend of reality. Morality is of the highest importance -- but for us, not for God."

"I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own -- a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotism."
(For more on Einstein and his philosophical views, visit this. If you are  interested in his scientific work, the same weblink has some great collection of that stuff as well.)