What is Truth? Is there a truth, a reality that exists beyond and independent of consciousness? Or is it the assumption and manifestation of the consciousness itself?
On July 14th, 1930 in Caputh, Germany, a fascinating dialogue took place where the participants were none other than two brilliant intellects: Rabindranath Tagore and Albert Einstein. This discourse was meticulously documented and later made available to the public in the January 1931 edition of Modern Review, under the title “On the Nature of Reality: Albert Einstein in Conversation with Rabindranath Tagore’’. This intriguing encounter was largely an exchange of opinions and their differing perspectives of the world, the notion of truth and beauty, representing two broad categories of attitudes. Considering this meeting took place shortly after Tagore gave the Hibbert lecture of 1930, Oxford named ‘’The Religion of Man’’, many interpret the Tagore- Einstein conversation to be an extension of the enduring conflict between science and religion.
According to Einstein,
“There are two different conceptions about the nature of the universe — the world as a unity dependent on humanity, and the world as reality independent of the human factor.’’
To which Tagore responded,
“When our universe is in harmony with man, the eternal, we know it as truth, we feel it as beauty’’.
While one distinguished between concept and reality, the other focused on human experience, highlighting human creativity and imagination. What many thought to be a captivating debate, Einstein himself believed it should “never have been published” since the discussion was “rather unsuccessful because of difficulties in communication’’. Even without the linguistic barriers, there may have been a fundamental difference between the two as philosopher Isaiah Berlin remarks “…Einstein could never agree with Tagore’s concept of a universal mind controlling nature, because of his commitment to the realism, determinism, and strict causality of classical physics.’’
Nevertheless, their exchange of statements remains particularly intriguing. The poet claims that truth is not a self-standing entity but a creation of human consciousness, and what else can the poet proclaim? He himself creates truth with his words. The scientist on the other hand positions truth as an agency in itself with its own set of qualities, discoveries of which are his scientific pursuit. Interestingly, this “dichotomy’’ appears in Anthony Sudbery’s “Einstein and Tagore, Newton and Blake, Everett and Bohr: The dual nature of reality’’ as he discusses the potential in acknowledging both to understand quantum theory. He asserts although there may be an implied division between scientific and artistic sensibilities, they are not inherently antagonistic or contradictory.Hence it is never Einstein versus Tagore, but Einstein and Tagore.
Perhaps coincidentally, the New York Times titled their coverage of this discourse as“Einstein and Tagore Plumb the Truth”. Each of their interactions, and trading of letters always stayed greatly reverential as before 1930, Tagore-Einstein’s first ever encounter took place in 1926, and later again twice in Berlin, and in mid-December, New York City. The New York Times captured this meeting under the caption: “A Mathematician and a Mystic meet in Manhattan.”
Beyond the search for truth, their thoughts pervaded the realms of mathematical discoveries, politics, world peace, the Renaissance individualism, the harmonious relationship between Eastern and Western music and visual arts, the role of sound, melody, and colour in such disciplines and so on. Tagore believed, between them “there was no intellectual aloofness.” Maybe because underneath the primary identities of poet and scientist, essentially, they were philosophers.Thus, their profound exploration as the representatives of Eastern and Western cultures, which took place almost a century ago, continues to nourish the minds of any thoughtful individual to this day.
Tagore was more insightful in his observations that our Universe is a human construct. Consciousness is the starting point of our universe though Einstein had other views. Today Quantum Physics is proving that Tagore was more accurate. The Universe is collapsed probability made real by the observer.
Tagore was more insightful in his observations that our Universe is a human construct. Consciousness is the starting point of the Universe though Einstein had other views. Quantum Physics is proving what Tagore said. The observable universe is a collapsed probability. We cannot have an Universe without Observer.
Someone, was it Einstein, who said that only fools are too sure of they say or believe? As long as two individuals are humble enough to understand that both could be wrong, are both could be right partly or fully, there is no scope of antagonism but only reverence for other view.
Agreed.
Human mind , senses _ perception is limited , Einstein also , philosopher perception , for that universe manager powers are unlimited , i.e. infinite , I infinite cannot be measured or under stood _ Rabindrsnath Tagore
The article is enlightening.
Thank you.
Post on Western – Eastern dates as old as it is, Before the information appears to be of Science and Culture, it simplifies differences. Thanks for the unreached details!
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond.
An interesting read. Looking forward to many more such write -up on issues philosophical and scientific.
Thank you for your time.
I agree with the Title “Tagore and Einstein: Bridging Spirituality and Science”, in my personal life, it is completely TRUE. When I was a Ph.D. Aspirant at USM, P.Pinang, Malaysia, there were 5 Ph.D,. Viva-Voce Rooms where students have to encounter all intellects to award their Ph.D. Out of 5 Rooms, I remember one Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. I got the opportunity to meet another Noble Laureate Prof. Gerad’t Hooft who said that GOD blesses vertically only a few people like me. If my research is NOT taken to every individual, it is a total waste. Be a Horizontal Blesser to take my research concepts into your field and make use of my Research Work. Recalling SWEET Memories of 2005. … Global Ambassador Of ONPASSIVE … GUPTA PSR
Thanks for sharing.
what it got to do with ignorant and stupid man like tagore who tells universe is unreal which is shankara philosophy …. tagore is not a great thinker and just followed Maya vaad given by shankara
Though this short summary of an unfathomably vast debate is written quite well, the legendary personalities here —
and I say it with due trepidation and respect — unfortunately seem to be occasionally talking at cross-purposes, and perhaps rendering any comprehensive conclusion rather unachievable! 🙁
I appreciate your reading and the constructive feedback.
As you highlighted, this is an “unfathomably vast debate” that persists across various fields like physics, metaphysics, and philosophy to this day. So the aim wasn’t necessarily to arrive at a definitive conclusion but only to retell the dialogue between the two intellectuals, who themselves were unable to reach a conclusive outcome.
Though this short summary of an unfathomably vast debate is written quite well, the legendary personalities here —
and I say it with due trepidation and respect — unfortunately seem to be occasionally talking at cross-purposes, and perhaps rendering any comprehensive conclusion rather unachievable! 🙁
Though this short summary of an unfathomably vast debate is written quite well, the legendary personalities here —
and I say it with due trepidation and respect — unfortunately seem to be occasionally talking at cross-purposes, and perhaps rendering any comprehensive conclusion rather unachievable! 🙁
Though this short summary of an unfathomably vast debate is written quite well, the legendary personalities here —
and I say it with due trepidation and respect — unfortunately seem to be occasionally talking at cross-purposes, and perhaps rendering any comprehensive conclusion rather unachievable! 🙁
Though this short summary of an unfathomably vast debate is written quite well, the legendary personalities here —
and I say it with due trepidation and respect — unfortunately seem to be occasionally talking at cross-purposes, and perhaps rendering any comprehensive conclusion rather unachievable! 🙁
They probably met 4 times and I read 2 conversations on music and truth and both are wonderful. It brings us in touch with the thoughts of 2 genius minds and great souls of the century.
Both of they didn’t understand the simple thing,that politics and religions are manmade diversity. It never can give strength nor can unite human with humanity. That’s why one left EARTH AND other stayed in EARTH.But both had enjoyed 1945 6th& 9th August Hiroshima and Nagasaki school children’s death by atom bomb. Shame on these scientist and teacher.