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And we, inhabitants of the great coral of the Cosmos…

“And we, inhabitants of the great coral of the Cosmos, believe the atom (which still we cannot see) to be full matter, whereas, it too, like everything else, is but an embroidery of voids in the Void, and we give the name of being, dense and even eternal, to that dance of inconsistencies, that…” quote by Umberto Eco
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“And we, inhabitants of the great coral of the Cosmos, believe the atom (which still we cannot see) to be full matter, whereas, it too, like everything else, is but an embroidery of voids in the Void, and we give the name of being, dense and even eternal, to that dance of inconsistencies, that infinite extension that is identified with absolute Nothingness and that spins from its own non-being the illusion of everything.”

Umberto Eco

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The atom is described as mostly empty space, an illusion of solidity, reflecting the paradox of being and nothingness in the cosmos.

In simple terms: Atoms are mostly empty, yet we perceive them as solid.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions about material reality.

Themes

philosophy physics cosmology ontology paradox

Mood

contemplative mysterious

Type

philosophical explanatory

When to use this quote

  • scientific education
  • philosophical debate
  • spiritual contemplation

Key Concepts

Void material illusion existential paradox

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does “nothingness” mean for existence?
  • How do we reconcile void with being?
A Different Perspective

Scientific models may oversimplify complexity.

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