M ay 2 00 6 Duality : A Bridge Between Physics And Philosophy ? ∗

A generalized view of Duality is offered as a bridge between physical sciences and the more abstract philosophical dimensions bordering on mysticism. To that end several examples of duality are first cited from from conventional physics sectors to illustrate the obvious powers of this principle. These include items from reciprocity in Newtonian mechanics to the problem of measurement duality that characterizes quantum mechanics. It is also noted that the latter has acquired a renewed interest in recent times, consequent on the emergence of new experimental techniques for testing the actual laboratory outcomes of traditional gedanken experiments, hitherto taken for granted. Against this background, the Duality principle is sought to be extended to the mystical domain, with convincing examples from various human level experiences.