Chapter 13
Span-Spinning from Abstract Thought to Physical Science
2Teleologic alacrity enabled man to fashion empirically, seemingly by prestidigitation; for instance, there was the Yogi who could, by means of cultivated figuring talent, mentally extract in a few seconds the cube root of an 18 digit figure. Such ability gradually engendered the false popular conclusion that mechanical experimentation is not scientific unless obviously correlated with and preceded by the use of mathematics or at least drafting board activity. These latter media of science seem so profound to the only slightly rationalizing ‘‘public’’ that it has come to acclaim as scientific only those who visibly utilize these means and, conversely, to discredit the teleologic ‘‘handy’’ inventor. Nevertheless, the intuitive teleologic fashioner consistently precedes the calculator in the functioning process of invention; in fact, the simplest superstitions of the teleologic inventor intuitively pursued have led the way. Occasionally, individuals have demonstrated an ability to encompass both the intuitive postulation ability and academic finesse and skill.
3 This is not to impute spuriousness to those who employ calculus in their computations. It is intended simply as a protest against the erroneous impression that calculus is indispensable for creative achievement and that valid scientific postulations cannot be set forth by relatively non-erudite persons. Calculus is simply a tool, as is a pencil, a method of calculation. What you do with the pencil, or with calculus, is quite apart from the instrument; likewise, merely to understand how to use calculus or a pencil does not automatically change one from a dolt to a scientist or an artist. It is necessary in objective science (invention) to proceed from an original intuitive assumption which, by the use of calculus as a checking process, may either be forwarded from ‘‘possibility’’ to ‘‘probability,’’ or dismissed as untenable. Indicated results may be accelerated through calculus, just as the electrical calculating machine may be an accelerating means of checkage.
4 Once the philosopher had segregated the sail from wind, and wind from a personalized God, he had of necessity to graph abstract force lines before he could comprehend what it was he himself was ‘‘sensing.’’ In this process he first noted down two lines of force, one representing the momentum and direction of the sea waves and the other the force and direction of the wind when the latter had shifted to a new direction from that of the momentum persisting in the waves of the ‘‘old sea,’’ the direction of which had been determined by an earlier wind. Then he noted a third line which was that of the line of direction developed by the keel and rudder of the ship due to its ploughing in a groove of least frictional resistance. These three forces (sea momentum, wind momentum, and least-frictional- resistance direction) were represented by an angular convergence of lines, the length of each representing the quantity of force involved. The philosopher then drew a fourth line from the convergence of the other three to represent the resultant of force, both as to direction and degree. This fourth line was recognized as a dictatable variable as a result of the man-controllable rudder angle relationship to the keel (the latter a diminutive beginning for ‘‘free will’’ latitudes).
5 The great significance of this abstract line development was that the prosaic philosopher realized therein that he could evolve not only a scientific demonstration of mind-over-matter in the realm of direction of force utilization, but could gain mechanical advantage through its application; he could apparently make the boat go up-wind by the angular control of sails and rudder.
6 Rationalization of these forces ultimately called for their segregation into two additional categories: pure tension force, and pure compression force. The classic demonstration of these angularly intersecting
7 lines was subject to static interpretation, as the scientist-philosopher carelessly failed to indicate the pushes and pulls which were evident to him.
9 Incidentally, his segregation of the newly discovered force phenomena, first into wind and then into ship momentum (later into force per se manifesting in directly oppositional ways, namely push and pull) is typical of the infinite progression of science and mind. For every new concept of mind there is promised an ultimate segregation into seemingly opposed categories, each of which in turn, when its special characteristics are thoroughly comprehended, calls for further segregation. The seemingly balanced oppositional characteristics, in due course, are found to have non-balancing oppositional identities.