From: Erin (macavity11@yahoo.com)
Date: Tue Jan 11 2005 - 15:02:33 GMT
PLATT: I don't see where any of these answers, including mine, explain how math,
an imaginary but strictly controlled and limited method of pattern making,
fits so neatly with the patterns of nature which arose out of chaos. It
almost seems necessary to conclude as Penrose does that the mathematics
exists in an out-of-this world Platonic realm whose content we poor
mortals only know by the shadows on the wall. But, I could be wrong.
I just read this part in the book by microserfs by Douglas Coupland. I was kind of interested in hearing comments. The topic seemed closest to this thread so am sticking it in here.
"I said that this was a truly random coincidence, except Ethan said I was not only being redundant ("random coincidence") but that he didn't believe in randomness, which is, I imagine a tacit admission of religiousnesss. Ethan. Odd. He said he'd prove it tonight.....(skipping a bit)........Anyway it was three darts per person, per round. Ethan put in four quarters and selected a four-player round. We asked him why, and he said, "You'll see." Karla went first, me second, Ethan third, and then for the fourth round we had what Ethan called, the "Random Round" where instead of any of us trying, we'd each huck a dart standing on one foot, gulping a beer, throw it backwards...as silly as possible, Ministry of Silly Walks. Needless to say, the Random Round won every single game, and always by a minimum of 100 points. It was scary. Ethan said randomness is a useful shorthand for describing a pattern that's bigger than anything we can holding in our minds. "Letting go of
randomness is one of the hardest decisions a person can make"
Erin
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