Alan Watts and the principle of relativity: A consideration of human significance

Alan Watts, a major interpreter of Eastern philosophies for a Western audience, spoke about the principle of relativity as embodied in Daoism and the traditional Chinese view of the nature of things. This concept illuminates the multiple perspectives that exist in viewing the world and its phenomena.

You can find the talk on Spotify: Alan Watts Being in the Way - Episode 3

Watts illustrates this principle with a fascinating example: a fruit fly, whose lifespan is only a few days, may perceive tiny creatures as irrelevant, which we humans may not even notice. We humans, on the other hand, are very likely to regard the fruit fly in the same way.

This leads to an important realization: we humans also tend to overestimate our own importance, especially when we consider our existence in the context of a larger framework.

Contrasting with Western philosophical views

This Eastern view of relativity contrasts with many Western philosophical traditions, which often seek universal truths and principles. For example, Platonism strives for unchanging ideals and forms that lie beyond the relative and changing world of appearances. In this way of thinking, there is an absolute truth or beauty that exists independently of individual or cultural perspectives.

You can find out more about Platonism here.

The Western Enlightenment also emphasizes a universal claim to truth and reason, with a belief in the ability of human reason to recognize objective truths. This differs significantly from the Daoist view, which emphasizes the diversity of perspectives and the mutability of all things.

Nagarjuna's interdependence and relativity in Buddhism

Nagarjuna, a central figure in Mahayana Buddhism, expands the concept of relativity by teaching the interdependence of all things. His philosophy, known as the Madhyamaka or Middle Way doctrine, emphasizes that phenomena neither exist in themselves nor are completely non-existent. Instead, they are interdependent and only exist in relation to other things. This idea of "emptiness" (Sanskrit: Śūnyatā) implies that the qualities we ascribe to things are not inherent, but arise from their relationships and contexts.

Nagarjuna's emphasis on interdependence corresponds with Watts' and Zhuangzi's views on the relativity of perception and meaning. As in Daoism and in the story of Zhuangzi and Huizi, the idea is conveyed that our views and judgments depend heavily on our specific point of view and context. In Buddhism, however, this is taken even further: It is argued that existence itself is relational and contextual.

This view stands in contrast to many Western philosophical traditions that seek fixed, unchanging truths. Nagarjuna's teaching emphasizes that the search for such an absolute truth may be futile, as reality itself is fluid and characterized by relationships. 

In practice, this means that our notions of self, objects and phenomena should always be questioned and understood as part of a larger, dynamic whole. Nagarjuna's philosophy challenges us to look beyond our own limited perspectives and recognize the deeper interconnectedness and interdependence of all things.

Thus, the Buddhist perspective of interdependence complements the Daoist and Watts' views on relativity and expands our view of the nature of reality. It shows that the understanding and acceptance of relativity and interdependence are essential for a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.