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Recently I was asked several questions and to provide my thoughts on each of them. Thus my thoughts follow below. As per usual I’ve not included footnoting – but most is readily available to those who require or desire more on the subjects. c/ork
Question 1: Are there connections between mathematics and the universe? Mathematics and the Universe go hand in hand! It’s because of mathematics one can actually delve into the universe with any reassurance of what to expect. Kepler is one of the best in explaining this in his quest of the Three Laws. Halley was immersed in the mathematics and wasn’t looking for a random but for something with real measure. Newton, Einstein and almost all of the others who are relatively honest will honor mathematics in some of their best works.
When one looks into the heavens all types of mathematical equations are taking place – we measure distance – time – space – and the relationships found therein. To make this even more basic we use mathematics in all aspects of our daily life – standing up – walking – various movements to dress and even to brush our teeth. We don’t think of these as being math because of the repetitive nature of the acts – but each has an element of math.
When we open a door we know how far to swing the door – and this is a relationship to the purpose of opening the door. Baking – cooking – preparing a mixture or blend each require mathematics. Our clothes size or shoe size – finding the proper glasses – not overfilling a container – each admit to the use of math. Playing sports or repairing a car engine are filled with mathematics.
Sadly we’ve been conditioned to think of math in the terms of science and high formulae that only some can understand or care to a part of – but indeed this is not true. Every aspect of our lives is involved with mathematics and one could say since this is our universe the two are very well connected (smile).
Question 2(a): What do I think of Mathematics? Math is fun – but in a much different way for me as I’ve to do most of my math in my head. My dyslexia gets in the way of doing things on paper (and yes the computer helps greatly to overcome this short-coming). We used math to work with you on goal-keeping (smile) – and when we home schooled Morgen math was taught in a varied of ways – so that it was practical and not just meaningless exercises. Most lose interest in math because of the way that it’s taught! And in most classrooms this means to either the brightest or the slowest. In either case most in the classroom get bored and thus they get lost. The brightest in their boredom open their minds and race into multiple other ways to use what’s being taught. However the slower students and even good students when they get lost tend to give up or in and grasping what they can just try to pass. Thus the joy and fun in math is lost. Math is used in most everything and especially in the Gospel for the parables!
Math is also a measure of what’s possible and what is more difficult to resolve into the possible. Some math will show what cannot be supported and thus not only is not possible but most likely is wrong. As an example a person brings an old guitar to be sold. He gives in his example that this was used by some recording star. You check the date of manufacture inside the unit and find it was built after the recording star died. You then deduce that it was not played and could not have been played by the recording star.
The mind can achieve only what it can visualize! Therefore to be able to think in abstracts bringing them to an idea to write down – and then to resolve into actual fact requires the use of mathematics. Even while you’re dreaming you can determine that you’re dreaming from the data being presented. The ability to visualize in one’s mind while either awake or sleeping depends on what you’ve put into your mind purposely during your waking hours. Whatever you’ve put in there will be there for usage when needed or called upon. This is why some who say they can’t remember – know they know or knew – but currently it’s escaping them somewhere in their minds.
When we think it’s in simple mathematics – we either save or delete from the problem at hand what’s available for us to use. Simple mathematics is that which you can understand – you’re the measure and no one else. Many times it would appear we don’t need to hesitate to come up with a solution – i.e. when driving and paying attention we constantly see risks and hazards taking the proper course to avoid or to diminish. This is all mathematics in constant motion and changing circumstances. Someone who’s distracted – i.e. on the phone – tuning the radio or TV (now-a-days) will not compute in the same manner and thus increase both the risks and hazards.
Each sentence one writes or says is mathematical – each thought is also the same. When writing for a newspaper I learned to look at the article as a math problem and see if it was constructed in a way so that another could understand and follow the thoughts clearly and thus gain from the article without being confused. Think of the following: n + v = s (noun plus verb equals sentence) – and then we just compound (or complicate) from there.
Question 2(b): How is math related to the universe? Hopefully some of the above has answered this question but let’s delve deeper into the universe. Much of what follows here will deal with two ‘Theorems’ the first being: There is a God and He and His Son created this Universe! The second is that you know and understand the first!
These two theorems are not a trite observations - but one must put aside much of man’s philosophy and rhetoric to understand the basis of simple mathematics and the universe. When one takes away Father and the Son – they take away common sense and replace it with chaos and random chance with odds that are so great nothing could’ve happened and continue to happen as we perceive them in our current state. Rather than quote them which many have done and are there for the reading – let’s suffice it to say – without a creator we wouldn’t be here and neither would anything else!
Heavenly Father has laws of nature and these laws extend to the universe. Kepler was following in the footsteps of others as he spent twenty plus years in developing his ‘Three Laws of the Universe!’ The 3rd of these laws took the longest – but he stayed with it in spite of setbacks – until he arrived upon an idea which if it worked would clarify the speed and distance from the sun the relationship between the planets and the sun. In the end it was a simple math error which when discovered unlocked the key to the 3rd Law. His work later allowed for those who came after him to solve gravity – the paths of comets and even to the famous E=MC2.
Math is related to the Universe simply because there’s a solid relationship to all that we now know – and all that we will someday know. Nothing is random in the visual world where the Universe is concerned. The lifetime of stars – the movements in space – the use of space ships (shuttles) – are all based on these constants and the use of mathematics to get them from point A to point B and so on. Without mathematics one would still see the various relationships but might not be able to finitely describe them – yet a child when looking at the heavens can make very telling statements without any knowledge of math that the scholar might have or possess.
There is yet much math to be discovered and new and unknown discoveries to be made. Some will cause the deletion of what some propose as the final law or finding – and most of the other will support and sustain that which is found in Father’s laws of nature and the universe. Almost all will somewhere start within the mind of an individual looking at something in a different light than those who’ve gone before them. One can never say that we know all that can be known – for each day with the more we learn the more we find we don’t know. And in the world of math and the universe there’s much to be discovered!
Question 3: Why do you think music is or is not a universal language? In order to be a universal language something must be able to transcend all ages – all time and all cultural biases. Music in the presence sense is being defined as instrumental and not vocal. Vocal music requires some knowledge of language or language being used. With this understanding in the present sense does music do this? I think not! It is quite doubtful one could take some types of music into an environment where it has never been played before and find it communicates with the new hearers. Yes on TV and in movies this doesn’t seem to be a problem – but this is not real life! Music has a quality (or to me some types) to cause relaxation and a feeling of introspection. Yet many today might find this same music as offending and a waste of their time.
To be a universal language something must be able to be communicated effectively with all of the universe’s hearers. Someone speaking French or Arabic can fully communicate with someone else who does also – yet for another who understands neither language the only thing they might discern is one language is French and the other Arabic. However if one speaking a totally unknown language and speaks loudly and forcefully while pointing a loaded weapon at you it will be understood.
Of all of the languages known to mankind in our universe one could reasonably propose that music might be the best understood by the largest majority. Soft music – hard music – marching music – dancing music – destructive or healing music and most likely be discerned by a majority. Michael Balkcom has written and spoken on the use of music to communicate – but in his example (that I’m most familiar with) it is with people who could recognize the music from a past experience.
Also as criteria one must express what they’re hoping to communicate. When I’m driving and some ‘boom box’ pulls alongside of me at a light – other than causing some anger – wondering about their future ability to hear (as they age) the communication is only negative and turned off. Now if one wants to consider this as communication then one can say, ‘Yes, they communicated with their music!’ However I would not want this to be considered a ‘universal language’ in the sense of positive communications where all can understand the same message as being presented.
Now let’s change the criteria – music as from Heavenly Father to bring both beauty and warmth into the world – can be considered a universal language! An infant child can and will respond to this type of music as well as any age can too! Yet too many will disregard or push aside such a limited criteria for defining music.
One would/could argue or guess infants (or any age) can also have a response to the world’s music as well. What Heavenly Father has presented to man – man without regard to the source tends to worldize it to gain acceptance and money. When one needs worldly music to get excited or moved upon and then they accept this as communication – one would not suppose others would be also. However the more pure music which we find in hymns – without the ‘new beat’ can do all that we need to allow us to find peace within and without in a world driven to frenzy for satisfaction.
Let me conclude this with what Morgen said to be one day as we were traveling together, “Dad are you listening to those lyrics?” At which point I paused – turned off the radio/tape player and said, “Thank you – I guess I was not – for this was familiar music to me from my youth – and I’d forgotten the intention of the lyrics.” Ever since then I’ve tried to be more careful to what I listen to either in private or when with others. I seek for uplifting music! Sometimes I’ll get out my old 45’s but these are carefully sorted for their content and listen to them. One would guess this then implies that music does communicate – but again this is isolated to me in this instance.
Now let’s tie all of this together – mathematics – universe and music! Music is first and foremost filled with mathematics – the notes – staffs – flow, etc. all require some coordination so others can duplicate or repeat – playing the same thought. The individual or group playing the music must be able to read the same information and know how long or short each note is to be and to the loudness or softness desired. This is all math!! Music has its own universe and since we’ve clarified for this essay it’s our universe we are found in a harmony of not having one without the other. We each have our own rhythms – we each see our own universe and we each have our own simply mathematics. Without such we would be nothing more than chaotic and irrelevant to ourselves and to our universe.
“Questions of Concern”
cji
11/22/08
Matters not the questions
only matters we want to know
questions of concern
here today to be found
answered and resolved
with more questions to ask
as climbing a mountain
when cresting the top
other mountains seen
and there to – to climb;
Questions of concern
able to answer in part
for space and time all
leaves knowledge poor
and when we know
we find more we don’t
thus the quest goes on
deeper and deeper
higher and higher
never ending this day
or tomorrows to come!
Copyright © 2008 – cji
Question 1: Are there connections between mathematics and the universe? Mathematics and the Universe go hand in hand! It’s because of mathematics one can actually delve into the universe with any reassurance of what to expect. Kepler is one of the best in explaining this in his quest of the Three Laws. Halley was immersed in the mathematics and wasn’t looking for a random but for something with real measure. Newton, Einstein and almost all of the others who are relatively honest will honor mathematics in some of their best works.
When one looks into the heavens all types of mathematical equations are taking place – we measure distance – time – space – and the relationships found therein. To make this even more basic we use mathematics in all aspects of our daily life – standing up – walking – various movements to dress and even to brush our teeth. We don’t think of these as being math because of the repetitive nature of the acts – but each has an element of math.
When we open a door we know how far to swing the door – and this is a relationship to the purpose of opening the door. Baking – cooking – preparing a mixture or blend each require mathematics. Our clothes size or shoe size – finding the proper glasses – not overfilling a container – each admit to the use of math. Playing sports or repairing a car engine are filled with mathematics.
Sadly we’ve been conditioned to think of math in the terms of science and high formulae that only some can understand or care to a part of – but indeed this is not true. Every aspect of our lives is involved with mathematics and one could say since this is our universe the two are very well connected (smile).
Question 2(a): What do I think of Mathematics? Math is fun – but in a much different way for me as I’ve to do most of my math in my head. My dyslexia gets in the way of doing things on paper (and yes the computer helps greatly to overcome this short-coming). We used math to work with you on goal-keeping (smile) – and when we home schooled Morgen math was taught in a varied of ways – so that it was practical and not just meaningless exercises. Most lose interest in math because of the way that it’s taught! And in most classrooms this means to either the brightest or the slowest. In either case most in the classroom get bored and thus they get lost. The brightest in their boredom open their minds and race into multiple other ways to use what’s being taught. However the slower students and even good students when they get lost tend to give up or in and grasping what they can just try to pass. Thus the joy and fun in math is lost. Math is used in most everything and especially in the Gospel for the parables!
Math is also a measure of what’s possible and what is more difficult to resolve into the possible. Some math will show what cannot be supported and thus not only is not possible but most likely is wrong. As an example a person brings an old guitar to be sold. He gives in his example that this was used by some recording star. You check the date of manufacture inside the unit and find it was built after the recording star died. You then deduce that it was not played and could not have been played by the recording star.
The mind can achieve only what it can visualize! Therefore to be able to think in abstracts bringing them to an idea to write down – and then to resolve into actual fact requires the use of mathematics. Even while you’re dreaming you can determine that you’re dreaming from the data being presented. The ability to visualize in one’s mind while either awake or sleeping depends on what you’ve put into your mind purposely during your waking hours. Whatever you’ve put in there will be there for usage when needed or called upon. This is why some who say they can’t remember – know they know or knew – but currently it’s escaping them somewhere in their minds.
When we think it’s in simple mathematics – we either save or delete from the problem at hand what’s available for us to use. Simple mathematics is that which you can understand – you’re the measure and no one else. Many times it would appear we don’t need to hesitate to come up with a solution – i.e. when driving and paying attention we constantly see risks and hazards taking the proper course to avoid or to diminish. This is all mathematics in constant motion and changing circumstances. Someone who’s distracted – i.e. on the phone – tuning the radio or TV (now-a-days) will not compute in the same manner and thus increase both the risks and hazards.
Each sentence one writes or says is mathematical – each thought is also the same. When writing for a newspaper I learned to look at the article as a math problem and see if it was constructed in a way so that another could understand and follow the thoughts clearly and thus gain from the article without being confused. Think of the following: n + v = s (noun plus verb equals sentence) – and then we just compound (or complicate) from there.
Question 2(b): How is math related to the universe? Hopefully some of the above has answered this question but let’s delve deeper into the universe. Much of what follows here will deal with two ‘Theorems’ the first being: There is a God and He and His Son created this Universe! The second is that you know and understand the first!
These two theorems are not a trite observations - but one must put aside much of man’s philosophy and rhetoric to understand the basis of simple mathematics and the universe. When one takes away Father and the Son – they take away common sense and replace it with chaos and random chance with odds that are so great nothing could’ve happened and continue to happen as we perceive them in our current state. Rather than quote them which many have done and are there for the reading – let’s suffice it to say – without a creator we wouldn’t be here and neither would anything else!
Heavenly Father has laws of nature and these laws extend to the universe. Kepler was following in the footsteps of others as he spent twenty plus years in developing his ‘Three Laws of the Universe!’ The 3rd of these laws took the longest – but he stayed with it in spite of setbacks – until he arrived upon an idea which if it worked would clarify the speed and distance from the sun the relationship between the planets and the sun. In the end it was a simple math error which when discovered unlocked the key to the 3rd Law. His work later allowed for those who came after him to solve gravity – the paths of comets and even to the famous E=MC2.
Math is related to the Universe simply because there’s a solid relationship to all that we now know – and all that we will someday know. Nothing is random in the visual world where the Universe is concerned. The lifetime of stars – the movements in space – the use of space ships (shuttles) – are all based on these constants and the use of mathematics to get them from point A to point B and so on. Without mathematics one would still see the various relationships but might not be able to finitely describe them – yet a child when looking at the heavens can make very telling statements without any knowledge of math that the scholar might have or possess.
There is yet much math to be discovered and new and unknown discoveries to be made. Some will cause the deletion of what some propose as the final law or finding – and most of the other will support and sustain that which is found in Father’s laws of nature and the universe. Almost all will somewhere start within the mind of an individual looking at something in a different light than those who’ve gone before them. One can never say that we know all that can be known – for each day with the more we learn the more we find we don’t know. And in the world of math and the universe there’s much to be discovered!
Question 3: Why do you think music is or is not a universal language? In order to be a universal language something must be able to transcend all ages – all time and all cultural biases. Music in the presence sense is being defined as instrumental and not vocal. Vocal music requires some knowledge of language or language being used. With this understanding in the present sense does music do this? I think not! It is quite doubtful one could take some types of music into an environment where it has never been played before and find it communicates with the new hearers. Yes on TV and in movies this doesn’t seem to be a problem – but this is not real life! Music has a quality (or to me some types) to cause relaxation and a feeling of introspection. Yet many today might find this same music as offending and a waste of their time.
To be a universal language something must be able to be communicated effectively with all of the universe’s hearers. Someone speaking French or Arabic can fully communicate with someone else who does also – yet for another who understands neither language the only thing they might discern is one language is French and the other Arabic. However if one speaking a totally unknown language and speaks loudly and forcefully while pointing a loaded weapon at you it will be understood.
Of all of the languages known to mankind in our universe one could reasonably propose that music might be the best understood by the largest majority. Soft music – hard music – marching music – dancing music – destructive or healing music and most likely be discerned by a majority. Michael Balkcom has written and spoken on the use of music to communicate – but in his example (that I’m most familiar with) it is with people who could recognize the music from a past experience.
Also as criteria one must express what they’re hoping to communicate. When I’m driving and some ‘boom box’ pulls alongside of me at a light – other than causing some anger – wondering about their future ability to hear (as they age) the communication is only negative and turned off. Now if one wants to consider this as communication then one can say, ‘Yes, they communicated with their music!’ However I would not want this to be considered a ‘universal language’ in the sense of positive communications where all can understand the same message as being presented.
Now let’s change the criteria – music as from Heavenly Father to bring both beauty and warmth into the world – can be considered a universal language! An infant child can and will respond to this type of music as well as any age can too! Yet too many will disregard or push aside such a limited criteria for defining music.
One would/could argue or guess infants (or any age) can also have a response to the world’s music as well. What Heavenly Father has presented to man – man without regard to the source tends to worldize it to gain acceptance and money. When one needs worldly music to get excited or moved upon and then they accept this as communication – one would not suppose others would be also. However the more pure music which we find in hymns – without the ‘new beat’ can do all that we need to allow us to find peace within and without in a world driven to frenzy for satisfaction.
Let me conclude this with what Morgen said to be one day as we were traveling together, “Dad are you listening to those lyrics?” At which point I paused – turned off the radio/tape player and said, “Thank you – I guess I was not – for this was familiar music to me from my youth – and I’d forgotten the intention of the lyrics.” Ever since then I’ve tried to be more careful to what I listen to either in private or when with others. I seek for uplifting music! Sometimes I’ll get out my old 45’s but these are carefully sorted for their content and listen to them. One would guess this then implies that music does communicate – but again this is isolated to me in this instance.
Now let’s tie all of this together – mathematics – universe and music! Music is first and foremost filled with mathematics – the notes – staffs – flow, etc. all require some coordination so others can duplicate or repeat – playing the same thought. The individual or group playing the music must be able to read the same information and know how long or short each note is to be and to the loudness or softness desired. This is all math!! Music has its own universe and since we’ve clarified for this essay it’s our universe we are found in a harmony of not having one without the other. We each have our own rhythms – we each see our own universe and we each have our own simply mathematics. Without such we would be nothing more than chaotic and irrelevant to ourselves and to our universe.
“Questions of Concern”
cji
11/22/08
Matters not the questions
only matters we want to know
questions of concern
here today to be found
answered and resolved
with more questions to ask
as climbing a mountain
when cresting the top
other mountains seen
and there to – to climb;
Questions of concern
able to answer in part
for space and time all
leaves knowledge poor
and when we know
we find more we don’t
thus the quest goes on
deeper and deeper
higher and higher
never ending this day
or tomorrows to come!
Copyright © 2008 – cji
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