I have just started reading the Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch, a multi topical book about physics, society, explanations, epistemology (theory of knowledge) and much more. Despite having read just 10 pages, I am already brimming with ideas and inspiration.
Deutsch begins the book by running through several mind-blowing phenomena in astrophysics; including stars, supernovae (explosions of stars) and gamma ray bursts. The latter is an explosion of a single star collapsing to form a black hole, visible from earth 7.5 billion light years away. Another spectacle involves objects known as quasars, can outshine a supernova for millions of years at a time and are powered by massive black holes at the centre of galaxies.
The violent and massive state of the multiverse as described by Deutsch made me think about us as humans. We are so small and what we do is so insignificant in the grand scheme of things, so we should just enjoy life while we’re here and try to make the world a better place. Often we think we are at the centre of everything, but the more I read Deutsch’s book, the more I realise how untrue this is.
This also relates to a concept in The Daily Stoic that I read a few days ago, it is called ‘Plato’s view’ (June 2nd)
‘There is a beautiful dialogue called “Icaromenippus, an Aerial Expedition” by the poet Lucian in which the narrator is given the ability to fly and sees the world from above. Turning his eyes earthward, he sees how comically small even the richest people, the biggest estates, and entire empires look from above. All their battles and concerns were made petty in perspective.’
The Daily Stoic
And a similar point by the astronaut Edgar Mitchell;
“In outer space you develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it. From out there on the moon, international politics look so petty. You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, ‘Look at that, you son of a bitch.’”
Edgar Mitchell, astronaut
From this perspective, so much of world affairs suddenly look extremely petty. In the rich world at least, we are on the whole living in much better conditions and with a much better rate of survival than we have for the rest of human civilisation. We have almost unlimited access to literature, books, music, film, TV all from our own homes. We can learn anything from our devices. What I took from the passages above was similar to what I took from Deutsch’s book; just zoom out for a minute, and remember who you are. Then act accordingly. It makes life so much less stressful if you realise how inconsequential most of your actions are:
-So what if I miss this homework? I can catch up, the universe will go on without me
-So what if I’m 5 minutes late for this thing?
-So what if there’s no internet connection at this place I have visited?
Obviously there are exceptions where your action matters significantly, but by enlarge the stuff we worry about is often trivial and will have no impact in real life. Also, why don’t we put more mental energy into the stuff that will matter and less into the stuff that clearly won’t?
This is just how I’ve been adapting my worldview based on what I’ve read recently. It has definitely improved my mindset and stress levels; you just need to ask, so what?
