Autobiography (1936; 1949; 1958)
Context: Religion merges into mysticism and metaphysics and philosophy. There have been great mystics, attractive figures, who cannot easily be disposed of as self-deluded fools. Yet, mysticism (in the narrow sense of the word) irritates me; it appears to be vague and soft and flabby, not a rigorous discipline of the mind but a surrender of mental faculties and living in a sea of emotional experience. The experience may lead occasionally to some insight into inner and less obvious processes, but it is also likely to lead to self-delusion. <!-- p. 14 (1946)
“There are metaphysical problems, which cannot be disposed of by declaring them meaningless.”
Source: Natural Philosophy of Cause and Chance (1964), p. 209
Context: There are metaphysical problems, which cannot be disposed of by declaring them meaningless. For, as I have repeatedly said, they are "beyond physics" indeed and demand an act of faith. We have to accept this fact to be honest. There are two objectionable types of believers: those who believe the incredible and those who believe that "belief" must be discarded and replaced by "the scientific method."
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Max Born 19
physicist 1882–1970Related quotes
Source: 1960 - 1970, Interview with David Sylvester 2. Spring 1965, p. 259
"Keep Moving from this Mountain" http://www5.spelman.edu/about_us/news/pdf/70622_messenger.pdf – Founders Day Address at the Sisters Chapel, Spelman College (11 April 1960)
1960s
Variant: You cannot solve the problem by turning to communism, for communism is based on an ethical relativism and a metaphysical materialism that no Christian can accept.
Context: There is also the danger that our system can lead to tragic exploitation. We must come out of the mountain and be concerned about a more humane and just economic order. And I say, this afternoon, that we cannot solve this problem byturning to Communism. Communism is based on an ethical relativism and a metaphysical materialism that no Christian can accept. I do believe that in America wemust use our vast resources of wealth to bridge the gulf between abject, deaden-ing poverty and superfluous, inordinate wealth. God has left enough space in this universe for all of his children to have the basic necessities of life.
Source: Books, Spiritual Warrior, Volume I: Uncovering Spiritual Truths in Psychic Phenomena (Hari-Nama Press, 1996), Chapter 3: Angels and Demigods, p. 47
“We cannot solve life's problems except by solving them.”
Source: The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth
“Metaphysical problems about "mind" versus "matter" arise only from epistemological confusions.”
An Epistemological Nightmare (1982) http://www.mit.edu/people/dpolicar/writing/prose/text/epistemologicalNightmare.html
“Science can only answer to the great majority of "metaphysical" problems "I am ignorant."”
Meanwhile, it is idle to be impatient or to indulge in system-making.
Introductory
The Grammar of Science (1900)
America...You Kill Me