What is reality?

Modern science is a great achievement of human civilization, but it is not perfect. It has its limits and flaws. Classical science, which started in the 17th century, was based on the idea that the universe is ruled by simple and universal laws that can be found and understood by human reason. Classical science wanted to give a complete and consistent picture of reality, and to predict and control nature with certainty and accuracy.

But in the 20th century, three amazing discoveries changed the classical view and showed the limits of scientific knowledge. These are Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, and Godel’s Incompleteness Theorems. These discoveries showed that reality is not as simple, objective, and absolute as classical science thought, but rather complex, relative, and uncertain.

• Einstein’s Theory of Relativity changed physics by showing that space and time are not fixed and absolute, but relative to the observer and the motion. This means that there is no single way to measure things like length, mass, or speed. Also, Einstein showed that matter and energy are the same thing, and that gravity is not a force but a bending of space-time caused by mass. These ideas challenged the Newtonian mechanics that classical physics used for centuries.
• Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle set a basic limit to the accuracy of measurement in quantum mechanics. It says that it is impossible to measure both the position and the momentum of a tiny particle with perfect accuracy at the same time. The more you know one thing, the less you know the other. This means that there is an inherent randomness in the behavior of quantum systems, and that physical reality is based on chances rather than causes.
• Godel’s Incompleteness Theorems proved that any system of logic or mathematics that is complex enough and consistent cannot be both complete and decidable. This means that there are always statements within the system that are true but cannot be proven by the system’s rules, or statements that cannot be decided to be true or false by the system’s rules. This shows that no system can capture all the truths of logic or mathematics, and that there are limits to what can be known or proven by human reason.

These three discoveries have deep implications for the nature and scope of scientific knowledge. They show that science cannot give a final and absolute answer to everything, but only an approximate and tentative understanding of reality. They also show that reality is not independent of the observer, but depends on the context and perspective. Moreover, they suggest that reality is not fully understandable by human reason, but goes beyond it in some ways.

To put it simply, modern science is based on recognizing its own limits and uncertainties. It does not claim to have all the truth, but rather admits its provisional and partial nature. It does not try to remove mystery, but rather accepts it as a source of wonder and curiosity. Modern science does not deny the existence of reality beyond its reach, but rather respects it as a possibility and a challenge.

Let's take a moment to realize the significance of living in a reality that is yet open to definition - nothing we say or do is absolute. We are constantly learning and understanding, describing and defining as we go along.