Connection: Einstein's Dreams and Chances Are

Two nights ago, as I read through pages 6-9 of Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman, I was immediately reminded of a film that I saw a couple of weeks back called Chances Are.

Although the pages are few, they are loaded with complex ideas that really make one think. Within the small chapter, Lightman begins by saying, "Suppose time is a circle, bending back on itself" (6). If this were so, everything would repeat. However, most people are unaware of this repitition and they unknowingly relive the same life over and over. Every breath, action, and word spoken would be the same in each life. Despite these many unmindful people, there are those who are educated with the fact that they live a recurring life. Not entirely consciously do they know this, but in their dreams it is confirmed. These people suffer deeply, knowing that every mistake and misfortune they ever had will continue repeating itself in the loop of time.

Chances Are affirms Lightman's theory about circular time to some extent. In the film, a young man is hit by a car and dies just a short time after getting married. He is sent to heaven and is asked where he'd like to return in his next life. Flustered and upset, he runs off without getting the special injection that would make him forget his past life. He is then reborn again and ends up coming into contact with his wife and his daughter! Slowly, he begins to remember his past life and a series of comical and sentimental events follow.

Both Einstein's Dreams and Chances Are play with the theory of circular time. As I read through that chapter, scenes from the film replayed in my head and allowed me to better understand what I was reading. Though lighthearted and sometimes silly, the film helped me comprehend a difficult concept in the book, and for that I was grateful. Because I read that chapter, I feel like I have a better grasp on the movie now, as well. Having deeper insight on an odd idea surely helps one's mind adjust to that idea. Therefore, both helped me understand the other.

The idea of circular time is significant because it is possible that this is exactly how time works on this earth. However, there are many possibilities for how time works as Lightman explains in Einstein's Dreams.

Metacognition: First Semester in Humanities

First semester seems to have flashed by. However, it feels like it's been a long time since starting the Shadow Catcher and discussing creativity, and in a way, it has been. I think over the course of this semester, my mind has changed significantly. I see new thought processes beginning to emerge that never have before. Sometimes I even catch myself thinking philosophically. Humanities has definitely altered my mind, taught me much, and identified my weaknesses.

After reading many articles, especially Mihály Csíkszentmihályi's "The Creative Personality, " my eyes were opened to the world of creativity. I thought about all of the mind bending ideas that he had concerning creative people... each person is so complex and different, and it made me excited to learn and think creatively myself.

The Shadow Catcher also made me think in a different way. At times, that book was very confusing. However, in the end, everyone was connected, and it was kind of brilliant. We also discussed how place became a character in that book. I thought that that was a really fascinating concept, and I will remember that in further literature that I come across.

I really disliked Sophie's World. I'd always call it "a philosophy textbook disguised as a cheesy novel." However, I'm sure most people don't feel this way. It just wasn't my style. I noticed how difficult it was for me to retain the philosophical information in the novel. Each philosopher seemed to run together and I could never match them with their philosophies. In addition to my usual annotations, I solved this problem by using Post-Its. By writing everything down, it was easier to remember who was who and who thought what. I'll continue using this method in the future when I'm having trouble with a book. Although much of Sophie's World is a blur, Freud's chapter remains in my mind. Sometimes I use his method in an attempt decipher my dreams, though I'm very bad at it.

We also watched a variety of excellent films in Humanities first semester. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about India's red light district, paper folding, and dance. We also saw some TED talks that I thought were very intriguing. It's amazing how much there is in this world that I am still unaware of. I am happy to have watched these films because my mind definitely enjoyed the intake of various information. Each was so different, yet so pleasing to learn about.

Humanities has definitely made me see that my mind is still a baby. It has also made me realize that the world is a very interesting place and it is full of information totally unknown to me.