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
The manifoldness of space is the fiat of analysis. It is the inevitable
outcome of the analyst's method of procedure. His education, training
and view of things in general inhibit his arriving at any other
result and he may be pardoned with good grace for his manufacture of
the space-manifold. For by it perhaps a better appreciation of that
wonderful extension of consciousness in the nature of which is involved
the explanation of the perplexing problems which the manifold and other
metageometrical expedients faintly adumbrate may be gained.
It is pertinent, in the light of the above, to examine into some of the
relative merits of the three formal bulwarks of geometrical knowledge.
These are _certainty_, _necessity_ and _universality_.
Geometric certainty is derived solely from the nature of the premises
upon which it is based. If the premises be contradictory, it is,
of course, defective. But if the premises are non-contradictory
or self-evident, then the certainty of geometric notions and
conclusions is valid. Another consideration of prime importance in
this connection is the _definition_. From it all premises proceed.
Hence, the definition is even more important than the premise; for
it is the persisting determinant of all geometric conclusions while
the premise is dependent upon the limitations of the definition. The
determinative character of the definition has led to its apotheosis;
but this, admittedly, has been necessary in order to give stability
and permanency to the conclusions which followed. But in spite of this
it would appear that the certainty of geometric conclusions is not a
quality to be reckoned as absolute or final.
With the same certainty that it can be said the sum of the angles of
the triangle is equal to two right angles it may be asserted that
that sum is also greater or less than two right angles. Certainty
which is based upon the inherent congruity of definitions, premises
and propositions is an entirely different matter from that certainty
which arises out of the real, abiding validity of a scheme of thought.
But this difference is not lessened by the fact that the latter is
dependent, in a measure, upon the correct systematization of our
spatial experiences by means of methodical processes. Euclidean
geometry, accordingly, is not so certain in its applications as it is
utilitarian; but non-Euclidean geometry is even less certain than the
former and consequently more lacking in its utilitarian possibilities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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