5.7. Anekantavada and The Uncertainty Principle

A tiny part of Anekantavada can be compared to the modern-day uncertainty principle as it depicts the possibility of our speculations.

‘The vulnerability standard is a standout amongst the most popular (and likely misjudged) thoughts in physics. It reveals to us that there is uncertainty in nature, a key point of confinement to what we can think about the conduct of quantum particles and, in this manner, the littlest scales of nature. Of these scales, the most we can seek after is to figure probabilities for where things are and how they will carry on.’^[1]

So in the Principle of Uncertainty, there are always possibilities to probe further, to know more and to understand beyond, and so do in Anekantavada.

Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle is about the limitations of possibilities of knowing.

When we talk about measuring the activities of an electron Heisenberg says,

‘With a superior estimating contraption, couldn't the speed and the situation of the electron be estimated without changing it? As indicated by Heisenberg, the appropriate response is no. Quantum mechanics declares that we can never know at the same time, regardless of how delicate our estimating gadgets are, the careful position and speed of a solitary electron. We can know one condition or the other, yet not both in the meantime. This is called Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle.’^[2]

Either this or that but unable to grasp the whole.

‘As indicated by Heisenberg, as per the Uncertainty Principle, in a subatomic domain, only probabilities can be determined. Since, for instance, it is difficult to know the precise position and speed of an electron, it is difficult to anticipate much about the electron's individual conduct. We can, in any case, anticipate with astonishing exactness the likelihood that an enormous amount of electrons will act in a certain way.’^[3]

One may say that each event, behaviour and thought first occurs at a subatomic level and factors like intent, destiny and free-will lay out their future plan. However uncertainty is always there. Not everyone can be a good leader and not all good leaders were always virtuous. There are always probabilities.

For example–every year CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) board exams are held in India, for the students of tenth and twelfth standard and over 28 lakh^[4] (over 2.8 million) students gave exam in the year 2018. It may be difficult to predict a single student’s performance in a particular exam but the board can determine, with accuracy, the average performance of the students from the entire country.

This way we can guess how millions of students will perform in the exam even before they take it but find ourselves unable to predict an individual student’s result.

‘In the rationale of Scientific Discovery (1968), for instance, Karl Popper communicates the view that there can be no 'absolute true' logical laws for our comprehension is continually developing and moving, once in a while drastically, in some cases at subtler dimensions. This humanistic point of view is, basically, a western partner to Anekantavada. The principle of uncertainty and nonabsolutism has subsequently become the only (nearly) fixed assumption of quantum physics!’^[5]

Like free will even in the universe there are always multiple sets of possibilities, out of which only one can happen. This can be termed as the free will of the universe. This leaves us at a point where everything, every thought, every subject, every object becomes incomplete, relative, interlinked and philosophical.

And we get motivation to,

‘Not repudiating previously established truths, but either enlarging upon or refining them. The many sided nature of truth gives it its strength and indeed its sacred character.’^[6]

Which is divine and motivational enough to keep us on the track of seeking newer and fresher horizons every moment.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/nov/10/what-is-heisenbergs-uncertainty-principle (Retrieved on 17-04-2018 @ 10 AM)

[2]:

BE. pp. 43

[3]:

BE. pp. 44

[4]:

https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/over-28-lakh-students-to-appear-forcbse-class-10-class-12-board-exam-2018-important-instructions-to-keep-in-mind-1182046-2018-0305 (Retrieved on 25-10-2018 @ 11 AM)

[5]:

LJ. pp. 56, 57

[6]:

LJ. pp. 48