Archive for February, 2008

Where the primitive mind met the challenge of completeness by imaginative invention and was then faced with the problem of fitting all these imaginings together, the medieval mind was fettered by its respect for existing books and authorities. It regarded the inherited written words of the ancient philosophers with the same ultimate authority that modern physicists attach to experimental evidence. But the sheer volume of these written authorities ensured that any unification of their philosophical thinking was a vast enterprise. The twentieth century is not immune to such desires either. We have only to look at the problems that had to be faced over the definition and meaning of mathematics near the turn of the century. The formalists wished to protect mathematics from paradox by making it a closed shop: they defined it to be the sum total of all the logical deductions made using all possible rules of inference from all possible starting assumptions. [...] The desire for completeness could not be realised even here, in the most formalised and controllable human empire of knowledge.
John D. Barrow. “New Theories Of Everything” published 2007, Oxford.

John D. Barrow is a Professor of Mathematical Sciences and Director of the Millennium Mathematics Project at Cambridge University, Gresham Professor of Astronomy and a Fellow of the Royal Society. His book, ‘New Theories Of Everything’ was given to me as a gift for my 21st birthday from my mother-in-law-to-be. And the above quote I found very satisfying. I couldn’t help but put the book down to think about it for a while before continuing.

It reassures my view that people have a warped sense of superiority when it comes to human progress. It seems to me that in this day and age where computers are everywhere and robotics are on the way, not to mention progression in genetic science, that people find it all too easy to assume we’ve hit a peak of technological prosperity. An easy mistake to make, sure. A lot of the things we have today certainly are impressive when compared to what we had just a decade ago. However, I do think this increase in technological advancement draws people all too easily into having the opinion that because of such advancements, it must have a direct relationship with our ability to think on a higher level of intelligence. This quote shows that even when we live in a world where technology continues to grow, we are still held back by our primitive and innate need to try and explain everything, even at the cost of logical reasoning.

Of course, my interpretation of the quote, and the opinion that followed is always open to debate. That’s why comments are enabled.

I hope someone has enjoyed the first instalment of my new Quote of the Month feature.