Tinjauan Filosofis The Ascent Of Man Dalam Perspektif Fisika Modern

Abstract

This study aims to conduct a philosophical review of the relevance of Jacob Bronowski's thoughts in his work, The Ascent of Man, amidst the development of modern physics. Bronowski views human history as an ascent driven by the unique ability of humans to understand the laws of nature through the integration of reason and imagination. However, philosophical questions arise regarding whether this humanistic narrative of ascent remains consistent with the increasingly abstract and often counter-intuitive findings of modern physics. Using qualitative-philosophical methods and a comparative approach, this study analyzes the traces of Bronowski's thoughts through three main pillars of modern physics: 1) The Uncertainty Principle and the limits of absolute knowledge; 2) Theory of Relativity and the shift in space-time perception; 3) Quantum Mechanics in the context of the connection between the observer and reality. The results of the study show that the traces of The Ascent of Man remain relevant through the concept of intellectual humility proposed by Bronowski, where modern physics is no longer seen as a tool to seek certainty of dogma, but as a means to understand the position of humans in a dynamic universe. This study concludes that the perspective of modern physics actually strengthens Bronowski's thesis that science is the most noble human activity, because it forces humans to continue to evolve cognitively while realizing their ethical limitations in the face of the complexity of matter.