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Words of Wisdom

Max Planck: “I regard consciousness as fundamental…”

“I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness.”
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Max Planck (1858-1947) was a Nobel Prize-winning German physicist and the father of quantum theory. His work in the field of theoretical physics led the way to many advances throughout the 20th century. Today, Planck’s name is synonymous with the German science community, evidenced by his being the namesake of the country’s Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science.


“I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness.”

Source: The Observer (25 January 1931) (via Wikiquote)

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