“It can be illuminating to look at the world in different ways.”
Frank Wilczek, theoretical physicist
This quote came to me from Bob in my senior center writers’ group. Bob kindly provided the excerpt below on complementarity:
COMPLEMENTARITY IS MIND- EXPANDING
219
“Thus, complementarity is an invitation to consider different perspectives. Unfamiliar questions, unfamiliar facts, or unfamiliar attitudes, in the spirit of complementarity, give us opportunities to try out new points of view and to learn from what they reveal. They foster mind expansion. Why not bring this spirit to supposed conflicts between art and science, or philosophy and science, or religion A and religion B, or religion and science?
It can be illuminating to look at the world in different ways. In my own experience, early exposure to Catholicism inspired me to think cosmically and to look for hidden meanings beneath the appearance of things. The attitudes have proved enduring blessings, even after I abandoned the faith’s strict dogmas. Today, I often go back to Plato, to Saint Augustine, to David Hume, or to “outdated” scientific works- Galileo, Newton, Darwin, Maxwell-to converse with great minds, and to practice thinking differently.
Of course, trying to understand different ways of thinking does not necessarily mean you must agree with them, much less adopt them as your own. In the spirit of complementarity, we should maintain detachment. Ideologies or religions that claim an exclusive right to dictate uniquely “correct” views are contrary to the spirit of complementarity. That said, science has a special status. It has earned enormous credibility, both as a body of understanding and as an approach to analyzing physical reality, through its impressive success in many applications. Scientists who define themselves narrowly fail to enrich their minds, but people who avoid science impoverish theirs.”
Frank Wilczek
For more one-liners, visit out host, Linda Hill
who writes:
“You’re never too old to discover brilliance in the world.”
Anything is Possible! 
August 31, 2022 at 9:45 am
A very thought provoking post.
August 31, 2022 at 10:55 am
“…trying to understand different ways of thinking does not necessarily mean you must agree with them.” I wish more people understood this. Very well said, JoAnna.
August 31, 2022 at 9:34 pm
Thanks, Dan. Just passing along the wisdom from Frank Wilczek . I wish more people understood this, too, and focused on understanding more than trying to convince.
August 31, 2022 at 10:55 am
It’s helpful to make like the owl and look in both directions.
August 31, 2022 at 9:46 pm
Oh, yes! Turning the head for a panoramic view. That’s why owls are so wise! 🙂
August 31, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Nice!
August 31, 2022 at 9:56 pm
Thanks, Dave.
September 1, 2022 at 9:27 pm
A sane and enlightened viewpoint! There would be less hatred and violence in the world if everyone adopted this philosophy! Thank you for posting this, JoAnna! 🙂
September 2, 2022 at 9:01 pm
Thanks Cheryl. I agree! We have a ways to go.
September 3, 2022 at 9:46 am
Thank you for sharing!!.. if more people would would look at this world with a open mind while following their heart filled with understanding this world would be a better place indeed… while the negative people seem to have the headlines, with today’s technology and blog sites like yours, more and more people are able to communicate and share ideas and with patience and time will make this a better world… 🙂
Until we meet again..
May the dreams you hold dearest
Be those which come true
May the kindness you spread
Keep returning to you
(Irish Saying)
September 4, 2022 at 3:12 pm
The negative people and conflicts do seem to get the headlines. Yet more people are choosing more positive options. I’m honored you see blogs like mine as part of a way to make a better world. Thank you for your lovely comment, Larry. 🙂