Goethe's problem
From my Quotes page:
I have a solution for one of Goethe's problems, 195 years after the publication of his book, Theory of Colours. It is sign language! Read on.
"We never sufficiently reflect that a language, strictly speaking, can only be symbolical and figurative, that it can never express things directly, but only, as it were, reflectedly. This is especially the case in speaking of qualities which are only imperfectly presented to observation, which might rather be called powers than objects, and which are ever in movement throughout nature. They are not to be arrested, and yet we find it necessary to describe them; hence we look for all kinds of formulae in order, figuratively at least, to define them.
"Metaphysical formulae have breadth as well as depth, but on this very account they require a corresponding import; the danger here is vagueness. mathematical expressions may in many cases be vey conveniently and happily employed, but there is always an inflexibility in them, and we presently feel their inadequacy; for even in elementary cases we are very soon conscious of an incommensurable idea; they are besides, only intelligble to those who are especially conversant in the sciences to which much formulae are appropriated. The terms of the science of mechanics are more adderessed to the ordinary mind, but they are ordinary in other senses, and always have something unpolished; they destroy the inward life to offer from without an insufficient subsitute for it. [personal note: this must refer to the aether, which Newtonian dynamics say don't exist. ha-ha, some sense of humor here, "without an insufficient subsitute "-jcl] The formulae of the corpscular theories are nearly allied to the last; through them the mutable becomes rigid, description and expression uncouth: while, again, moral terms, which undoubtedly can express nicer relations, have the effect of mere symbols in the end, and are in danger of being lost in a play of wit. [Newtonian/Einstenian particles deny the existence of the aether, or "vacuum energy," if you will. -jcl]
"If, however, a writer could use all these modes of description and expression with perfect command, and thus give forth the result of his observations on the phenomena of nature in a diversified language; if he could preserve himself from predilections, stil embodying a lively meaning in as animated an expression, we might look for much instruction communicated in the most agreeable of forms. [which language is more lively and animated than native-fluent sign language? -jcl]
"Yet, how difficult it is to avoid subsituting the sign [mathematical symbol] for the thing; how difficult to keep the essential quality wtill living before us, and not to kill it with the word. With all this, we are exposed in modern times to a still greater danger by adopting expressions and terminologies from all branches of knowledge and science to embody our views of simple nature. Astronomy, cosmology, geology, natural history, nay religion and mysticism, are called in our aid; and how often do we not find a general idea and an elementary state rather hidden and obscured than elucidated and brought nearer to us by the employment of terms, the application of which is strictly specific and secondary. We are quite aware of the necessity which led to the introduction and general adoption of such a language, we also know that it has become in a certain sense indispensable; but it is only a moderate, unpretending recourse to it, with an internal conviction of its fitness, that can recommend it. " -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Know what: I could express what Goethe so eloquently said in words just as eloquently in ASL, in much fewer words, saving energy! And be understood by a massively higher percentage of people. As soon as we are able to detect sign language movements via brain waves, we will be the first telepathic people! Add that with transcranial magnetic simulation, with neurosuppressors (to suppress involuntary signing via neuron activation while brain download of sign language mental images via TMS), we can literally mentally send images of knowledge. This is the key to enlightenment.
With the first successful use of prosthetic limbs manipulated solely by brain waves, what I have been saying would happen is now reality. LITERALLY. If I am hooked up to that computer, I would be moving a fake arm, hand and fingers! Combine that with sign language recognition, the possibilities this brings up is overwhelming. I wonder what would happen if we rebroadcast these brain waves into another person's brain? Probalby need identical twins for initial experiments.
Eureka! On the cover of the book, there is a quote by Ludwig van Beethoven, the deaf musician:
Gedanken experimenten!
I have a solution for one of Goethe's problems, 195 years after the publication of his book, Theory of Colours. It is sign language! Read on.
"We never sufficiently reflect that a language, strictly speaking, can only be symbolical and figurative, that it can never express things directly, but only, as it were, reflectedly. This is especially the case in speaking of qualities which are only imperfectly presented to observation, which might rather be called powers than objects, and which are ever in movement throughout nature. They are not to be arrested, and yet we find it necessary to describe them; hence we look for all kinds of formulae in order, figuratively at least, to define them.
"Metaphysical formulae have breadth as well as depth, but on this very account they require a corresponding import; the danger here is vagueness. mathematical expressions may in many cases be vey conveniently and happily employed, but there is always an inflexibility in them, and we presently feel their inadequacy; for even in elementary cases we are very soon conscious of an incommensurable idea; they are besides, only intelligble to those who are especially conversant in the sciences to which much formulae are appropriated. The terms of the science of mechanics are more adderessed to the ordinary mind, but they are ordinary in other senses, and always have something unpolished; they destroy the inward life to offer from without an insufficient subsitute for it. [personal note: this must refer to the aether, which Newtonian dynamics say don't exist. ha-ha, some sense of humor here, "without an insufficient subsitute "-jcl] The formulae of the corpscular theories are nearly allied to the last; through them the mutable becomes rigid, description and expression uncouth: while, again, moral terms, which undoubtedly can express nicer relations, have the effect of mere symbols in the end, and are in danger of being lost in a play of wit. [Newtonian/Einstenian particles deny the existence of the aether, or "vacuum energy," if you will. -jcl]
"If, however, a writer could use all these modes of description and expression with perfect command, and thus give forth the result of his observations on the phenomena of nature in a diversified language; if he could preserve himself from predilections, stil embodying a lively meaning in as animated an expression, we might look for much instruction communicated in the most agreeable of forms. [which language is more lively and animated than native-fluent sign language? -jcl]
"Yet, how difficult it is to avoid subsituting the sign [mathematical symbol] for the thing; how difficult to keep the essential quality wtill living before us, and not to kill it with the word. With all this, we are exposed in modern times to a still greater danger by adopting expressions and terminologies from all branches of knowledge and science to embody our views of simple nature. Astronomy, cosmology, geology, natural history, nay religion and mysticism, are called in our aid; and how often do we not find a general idea and an elementary state rather hidden and obscured than elucidated and brought nearer to us by the employment of terms, the application of which is strictly specific and secondary. We are quite aware of the necessity which led to the introduction and general adoption of such a language, we also know that it has become in a certain sense indispensable; but it is only a moderate, unpretending recourse to it, with an internal conviction of its fitness, that can recommend it. " -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Know what: I could express what Goethe so eloquently said in words just as eloquently in ASL, in much fewer words, saving energy! And be understood by a massively higher percentage of people. As soon as we are able to detect sign language movements via brain waves, we will be the first telepathic people! Add that with transcranial magnetic simulation, with neurosuppressors (to suppress involuntary signing via neuron activation while brain download of sign language mental images via TMS), we can literally mentally send images of knowledge. This is the key to enlightenment.
With the first successful use of prosthetic limbs manipulated solely by brain waves, what I have been saying would happen is now reality. LITERALLY. If I am hooked up to that computer, I would be moving a fake arm, hand and fingers! Combine that with sign language recognition, the possibilities this brings up is overwhelming. I wonder what would happen if we rebroadcast these brain waves into another person's brain? Probalby need identical twins for initial experiments.
Eureka! On the cover of the book, there is a quote by Ludwig van Beethoven, the deaf musician:
"Can you lend me the Theory of Colours for a few weeks? It is an important work. His last things are inspid." 1820.On my quotes page, there's many more of Goethe's sayings, and these near the end of the book actually makes sense of Beethoven's remark, considering that he wasn't able to hear:
"If the word tone, rather than tune, is to be still borrowed in future from music, and applied to colouring, it might be used in a better sense than heretofore.Wow. I never imagined that I'd discover Ludwig van Beethoven's secret in a 1810 Goethe book. It makes sense to me as a deaf person.
"For it would not be unreasonable to compare a painting of powerful effect, with a piece of music in a sharp key; a painting of soft effect with a piece of music in a flat key, while other equivalents might be found for the modifications of these two leading modes.
"The word tone has hitertho understood to mean a veil of a particular colour spread over the whole picture; it was generally yellow, for the painter instinctively pushed the effect towards the powerful side." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Gedanken experimenten!
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