«An intelligence that knew all the forces that act in nature at a given moment, as well as the momentary positions of all things in the universe, could cover the movements of the largest bodies together with those of the lightest atoms in the world in a single formula; For him there would be nothing uncertain, and before his eyes both the future and the past would be present ».
The quote suggests the concept of an all-knowing intelligence capable of understanding every natural force and the positions of all matter at a specific moment. Such knowledge would allow this intelligence to predict the movements of both massive celestial bodies and minuscule particles using one comprehensive formula. This implies a level of understanding that transcends current human capabilities.
Furthermore, this intelligence would perceive time differently, having access to both past and future events simultaneously. It highlights the idea that with complete knowledge of the universe, uncertainty would cease to exist, as all variables and outcomes would be known. This vision reflects the aspirations of scientific inquiry, where uncovering the foundations of nature leads to a deeper understanding of reality.
