May 1st, 2017
I would assume that most people today would become eerily bored, when confronted by Mathematics.
In fact, many people often shy away from Mathematics altogether, often without ever thinking why? And I attribute this phenomenon to what I call, “the Math effect.” And this effect is a bi-product of tempered down ideals, which then often reflect neither, “awareness nor understanding,” of the subject of Math, itself. Whereby, it’s not even possible to overstate the word, “awareness,” in that last sentence.
But let me start over….
Math can be awesome.
And for the better part of a century, many in the western world have considered Einstein to be the smartest human-being ever to walk the Earth because of his Mathematical prowess. And this opinion is commonly held for a variety of reasons within the science community. However, in particular, this opinion has held strong among mainstream science for the better part of a century and a half, despite the fact that since his passing… much of Einstein’s work has been overtaken by modern science. Yet, Einstein is still regarded as, “the smartest man in human history,” for a variety of reasons.
But what makes someone smart? And furthermore, what truly differentiates great minds? Or in this case, the greatest minds.
And let me put this another way… if you made a list of historically relevant people, regarded as the most influential in human history, most of them would fall into 2 categories. And those 2 most noteworthy categories are….. 1. inventors and 2. physicists.
But why do inventors and physicists… get so much credit for being great thinkers? And what about other fields? Aren’t equally great minds present in other fields? What about people in; politics, military, arts, music, athletics and even architecture? And why are physicists and inventors, so often credited as histories greatest minds?
And I’ll tell you why I believe that is the case, right now… because how does one view Math, in a way that turns formula, into imagination? Metaphorically speaking…
And take the formula for Pi as an example.
Whereby, since the beginning of time philosophers have had the ability to carve out circles and in doing so, any Mathematicians could then measure subsequent radius, surface area, and circumference(s) since this formula’s conception.
However, now imagine the ways in which early architects must have felt, upon discovering that the formula for circumference, contained a variable, which appears to have no end.
Pi, R, Squared…
(RIP Galileo Galilee and Sir Isaac Newton, whom surely had a difficult time explaining this algebraic conundrum. But even before them, this Mathematical epiphany had to spark philosophical discourse, possibly as early as 5000 B.C.)
But basically; why does a circumference’s algebra, contain a variable with seemingly no end?
And in this way, when combining theology, Math and philosophy, you can actually go far beyond Mathematical, “surface level thinking,” and turn physics into a philosophical debate… about the nuances of infinity!
And the easiest example of doing so, is the formula; “Pi, R, squared,” because with this formula, when given the radius of a circle and it’s circumference, one can literally spend an eternity breaking down the factor of Pi. Whereby, in this way, one could then argue that a true circle has no end… arguably… or that in terms of, “metaphorical Math,” the circle has no ending. Whereby, in either case the issue of accuracy, in debating the variable of Pi, becomes somewhat grey and mysterious at the sub-atomic and philosophical levels.
However, now imagine the bitter irony that 17th century Mathematicians and beyond, surely confronted when discovering this conundrum, through measurement in century’s past? Whereby, the equation for circumference, seemingly has no end… and throughout history, Persian dynasties, Egyptian times, you name it, in all likelihood, “this perspective on Math and philosophy,” caused a great deal of debate throughout the ancient world and particularly for ancient architects. (*And furthermore, consider, “who invented Pi?” And in this sense, what is, “invention,” itself?)
Because think about this in philosophical terms. It’s a seemingly natural phenomenon for an evolving society to build larger and larger architectural constructs. Yet, while building larger and larger structures, it’s also seemingly natural evolution… to advance measuring techniques and seek greater accuracy. Whereby, architecture evolves seemingly in a natural pattern of growing complexity, making inventions themselves almost self explanatory at the cutting edge of ancient mathematics!
And it’s almost a natural evolution, so to speak, in terms of building with greater complexities… from the tools you use to build, right down to the structures themselves. But really think about the evolution of architecture throughout social evolution and in this way, it almost seems difficult NOT to discover the equation for circumference, which again, when examined, is in essence an algebraic end point…
Yet, when breaking down the factor of Pi, one could literally take philosophers their entire lives, without a clear cut resolution…
So in conclusion, in many ways this equation could be considered metaphorical to life itself… IE metaphorical physics and congruent systems. Whereby, the equation has a beginning and the circle has a starting point, but the end of the circle can be infinitely broken down, like ripples of energy, to a point that no one can foresee… philosophically speaking. Yet, in this way, where Math meets philosophy, you can generate a great range of debate over the very constructs of our universe itself… and this philosophy is then perfectly illustrated through the universal language of Mathematics.
And also imagine the circle in terms of say, “life and death,” or, “time,” itself. Whereby, the starting point is clear but with the factor of Pi running on forever, it is unclear where, “the end,” might eventually lead… and what if these concepts are congruent? What if the formula for circumference really is the same as, “space and time or heaven and hell?”
And now…. under that, “metaphorical premise,” does Math still seem so boring to you?
-William Larsen, Civilians News – News For All Views