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The Useful Fiction of Atoms and Selves
The provided text explores the concept of useful fictions, arguing that humans rely on simplified mental models like atoms and selves to navigate a complex reality. Although modern science reveals that atoms are mathematical patterns rather than solid objects, and the self is a shifting process rather than a fixed entity, these abstractions remain essential for practical life. This conceptual shorthand allows society to assign accountability and perform scientific work without becoming overwhelmed by the underlying chaos of the universe. The author suggests that these internal and external…
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