Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Readings: Wrap Your Mind Around This

"Equilibrium, in so far as equilibrium defines limits, is the essential idea of science; by means of this idea every change, and therefore every phenomenon, is considered as a rupture of equilibrium, linked with all other changes through the compensation of successive ruptures of equilibrium; and this compensation makes all disequilibria an image of equilibrium, all changes an image of the motionless, and time an image of eternity."

...and,

"It would be necessary, in order to perceive an image of equilibrium in the indefinite succession of ruptures of equilibrium, to embrace the totality of the universe and of time; and this is not granted to man, whose thought, in so far as it relates to objects, is limited."

--Simone Weil, "Fragment: Foundation of a New Science" from On Science, Necessity, and the Love of God