The mystery of space : $b a study of the hyperspace movement in the light of the evolution of new psychic faculties and an inquiry into the genesis and essential nature of spaceBrowne, Robert T.
Religion
The mystery of space : $b a study of the hyperspace movement in the light of the evolution of new psychic faculties and an inquiry into the genesis and essential nature of space
Browne, Robert T.
Hyperspace
It follows, therefore, as a logical conclusion that geometric space of
whatsoever nature is a purely formal construction of the intellect, and
for this reason is completely under the sovereignty of the intellect
however whimsical its demands may be. Being thus the creature of the
intellect, its possibilities are limited only by the limitations of the
intellect itself. Perceptual space, being neither the creature of the
intellect nor necessarily an _a priori_ notion resident in the mental
substructure, but existing entirely independent of the intellect or
its apprehension thereof, cannot be expected to conform to the purely
formal restrictions imposed by the mind except in so far as those
restrictions may be determined by the nature of perceptual space. And
for that matter, it should not be forgotten that, as yet, we have no
means of determining whether or not the testimony of the intellect is
thoroughly credible simply because there is no other standard by which
we may prove its testimony. It is possible to justify the deliveries
of the eye by the sense of touch, or vice versa. It is also possible
to prove all our sense-deliveries by one or the other of the senses.
But we have no such good fortune with the deliveries of the intellect.
We have simply to accept its testimony as final; because we cannot
do any better. But if it were possible to correct the testimony of
the intellect by some other faculty or power which by nature might be
more accurate than the intellect it should be found that the intellect
itself is sadly limited.
The possible curvature of space is a notion which also characterizes
the content of the non-Euclidean geometry. It is upon this notion
that the question of the finity and unboundedness of space, in the
mathematical sense, rests. In the curved space, the straightest line
is a curved line which returns upon itself. Progression eastward
brings one to the west; progression northward brings one to the south,
et cetera. On this view space is finite, but may not be regarded as
possessing boundaries.
Space-curvature, reinforced by the idea that space is also a manifold
is the enabling clause of metageometry and without them the analyst
dares not proceed. Here again, we are led to the confession that
however fantastic these two notions may seem and evidently are, there
is nevertheless to be recognized in them a "dim glimpse" of a veritable
reality--a slight foreshadowing of the revelation of some great kosmic
mystery.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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