What's happening forum!? (just stole that line from a mainstream youtube channel I've been watching lately, kinda like it). What's new with you? Hope you've had a blast reading this blog, I'm pretty sure you're gonna love the next posts, so let's jump in.
When I was in the university (don't worry, that was last year) very few sessions really moved me, not because of the content or schedule, but because of the 'feeling' on the teachers words. I bet most of us just fall sleep or check our e-mail when teachers detoured from the main subject, but is in this times when the most important things shine up… or simply the least boring.
I remember one particular lecture of my Graphics teacher, when he was trying to explain to us what's up with the 'fourth' dimension, so he came up with a small story from a book called 'Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions' by Edwin A. Abbott. How can this title possibly explain the fourth dimension? And don't laugh, but the main character is a square… have your attention yet?
This story starts with our square (who I like to refer to as Mr. S). Mr. S has lived in the 2D for all his life, that's all he knows, he can go up and down, left and right, in fewer words, he is the master of 2D. One night Mr. S has this dream where he visits Lineland (you won't find this place on a map, don't bother) and he meets the ruler (no pun intended) of this place and Mr. S talks to this guy about Flatland (his 2D world), but the ruler doesn't believe such a place exists, since he only knows Lineland, where there's just one dimension.
But later in the tale Mr. S meets a visitor from a 3D world (Spaceland), this visitor is what we'd call a sphere. Since there's no way to fit a sphere in a 2D world, all Mr. S sees is a circle (another peep from Flatland), but things start to get out of control (at least to Mr. S) when the sphere moves, because Mr. S perceptions translates into a circle changing size (much like slicing an orange, all slices are different sizes). But how is this a big deal for Mr. S? Well, imaging if in your life you meet a person, and all of the sudden his or her size changes? Or maybe some colors? Or even worse… if this person disappears? That is exactly how we'd feel if something or someone who'd lived in 4D visits our 3D world… start getting the picture? (For the record… I think those names worlds are my highlight of the day!)
All this episodes are entwined in an english novel, and though you can think is a math or geeky novel, it is actually a satirical novella dealing with social hierarchy issues… wow! That's some imagination from the XIX century, I'm starting to worry where the romance is at (I'm thinking of all sorts of interaction with squares and circles…). Anyway, is a great novel from the UK which you should read now! Here's the link to the novel, perhaps is better if you print in though. Also check the trailer of the movie, is kinda funny!
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