Explore how Einstein, Jung, and Freud shaped history, and how evolving theories and overlooked figures challenge our understanding of science and reality.
Have you ever woken up with the feeling that things in the world could have turned out differently?
That unsettling sense of missing or having missed something? Perhaps the feeling that something is not quite right somewhere, or that it may have been wrongly documented by those who recorded it? Over time, more details about our shared past continue to emerge. Consider the stories discussed by Yuval Noah Harari in Sapiens, Peter Ackroyd in Reizen door de tijd, or Thomas Hertog, a former student of Stephen Hawking, who is one of the most revered scientists of our era.
Is their version of reality also our reality?
Picture: Steven Hawkins (The Gardian)
You might have read these books as well. It seems increasingly apparent that much has been rewritten in various fields, especially since the year 2000. Think about Albert Einstein, Carl Gustav Jung, and Sigmund Freud. These individuals, I suspect, documented their stories and discoveries as accurately as possible in their time. Yet, even today, they have many followers who might believe that what is written in history books must be the truth simply because it was recorded. It's understandable that early writers might have presented their findings with the best intentions, given the limitations of their research capabilities at the time. For instance, Einstein had a longstanding disagreement with Niels Bohr about the Big Bang and the subsequent development of the universe.
Are there still assumptions in our history?
This question is challenging to answer because who truly has a monopoly on wisdom? Who elaborated on the theories of previous scientists? Were there sufficient truth checks on the ideas adopted from predecessors throughout history? Were these truth checks even feasible in their time? Even someone as prominent as Stephen Hawking had to revise his views after publishing A Brief History of Time, where he initially argued that the universe and life emerged from the Big Bang, suggesting nothing existed before it. Hawking was known for starting from his own intuition, which he sometimes accepted as truth to further develop his theories.
Was the Big Bang truly the beginning of time?
Often, scientists suggest that human complexity implies a creation by a larger being. The name of this being may be secondary to many, but the idea is that the intricate adaptations observed in human development could not have occurred by mere chance or human influence. Applying this notion to the development of Earth, it seems there are still unrecognized coincidences that we, and these scientists, continue to grapple with, adjusting theories to fit these occurrences.
Picture: Carl Gustav Jung & Sigmund Freud (Owlcation)
Are our theories about reality accurate?
Theories often evolve under pressure, which has worked well in the past because much of humanity could not fully grasp them. History books, too, have been influenced by victors and often reflect a biased perspective. Many of these victors were likely guided by more intelligent women of their time whose contributions are less documented. Today, these narratives appear overly favorable and are tailored to fit the victors' perspectives.
Will women emerge as the true victors in our history?
After studying numerous history books, I believe that the history of our planet must have been different from what we currently understand. Consider the impact of all the undocumented women who must have influenced the development of humanity and Earth. Think about the theories modified by scientists to enhance their own stories and how the general public has largely accepted these narratives. Remember that while the world may have been shaped by chance, science is not based on chance but on what is known and understood.
