Frank, I like Kelvin's quote too, in part because when I try to express myself in art or philosophy or... photography I am reminded that my 'Knowledge' is so 'meager and unsatisfactory'. <vbg>
Regards, Bob S. In a message dated 12/30/2002 5:08:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Kelvin was a scientist. He needed mathematics to explain what he was doing. It was >his language. > > Some things can't be completely explained with the language of mathematics (at least >not yet). Many try to express these things with other "languages" (for lack of a >better term). Sometimes philosophical treatises are used in an attempt to express >these concepts. Some use art (I guess that's why many philosophers write novels and >plays). Sometimes music, dance, and the visual arts (including photography!!) are >the medium of choice. > > To Kelvin (and apparently some others on this list), if it can't be expressed >mathematically, the knowledge is "meager and unsatisfactory", because it can't be >expressed in "his language". For others, the arts is a way to try to explain and >observe the world. > > All are valid. But, all fail to completely and satisfactorily explain ~everything~. > > Which is why we have scientists, mathematicians, philosophers and artists. And >which is why the lines between these disciplines are often very blurry, because when >you come down to it, they're all trying to explain the same thing. > > Sorry if I'm not making sense here, because I'm really none of the above. I'm just >a bike courier who like to take photographs. <vbg> > > cheers, > frank > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > > > > Well, ok, but since thoughts of a possible ET arose in the mind of man > > > mathematics has been described by scientists and science fiction writers > > > alike as the only universal language with which we might begin communication. > > > > Personally, I have an old quote hanging in my office from Lord Kelvin. You know, >the guy who invented the Kelvinator, the early models of the home refrigerator. Lord >Kelvin said "When you can measure and express it in numbers, you know something about >it; but when you cannot... your knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind." > > > > It drives my marketing research/focus group colleagues crazy! <g> > > > > Regards, Bob S.
