Just finished reading the 2001 edition of Gödel's Proof by Ernest Nagel and James Newman, edited by Douglas Hofstadter. This is an excellent introduction to Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem, written in mostly non-technical language—which means that you don't have to be a professional mathematician to (at least mostly) understand it. Though still a challenging read, I'd say it's well worth the …
Science & Spirit
Couch Of Leaves: Reflections On Power
The Tao can't be perceived. Smaller than an electron, it contains uncountable galaxies. If powerful men and women could remain centered in the Tao, all things would be in harmony. The world would become a paradise. All people would be at peace, and the law would be written in their hearts. When you have names and forms, know that they are provisional. When you have institutions, know …
Precision: Mathematical & Poetic
Spring Song This time of year/place—springtime in the northern hemisphere—easily brings to mind the theme of resurrection. But first it comes to the senses: the warming temperatures and steadily lengthening days; the sight and scent of fragrant blossoms; the lime-green newness squeezing out from seemingly dead branches. It’s glorious! Here’s a poem by Lucille Clifton that—to my …
Art & Science
Flames Wow - What a shock of disbelief and sadness, to see images of the Notre Dame cathedral engulfed in flames. Now of course we know that any phenomenon that appears is destined—at some point—to disappear. But in all kinds of relative contexts, there’s genuine value in preserving/reproducing certain things—and (imo) the Notre Dame cathedral is one of these. In the Hindu triumvirate of …
Return Of The Geese
If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is: Infinite. ~ William Blake Returning to writing from a previous time can be an interesting exercise, and tends to clearly highlight which essays, poems, etc. have an evergreen quality—some kind of value that does not diminish with the passing of time—and which ones, not so much. Here's a piece that, imo, falls …
As If
Wave-Particle In a fascinating article—Does The Universe Exist If We're Not Looking?—that's based upon an interview with (the late) physicist John Wheeler, I learned something new about the delayed choice quantum eraser experiment, which is that it originally was a thought experiment involving a pair of distant galaxies and an even-more-distant quasar. It was only later that a table-top version …