As we recall from our halcyon years of adolescent frustration, the world of geometry starts with a point. It progresses from there to two points, which form a line segment. (In actuality, since a point is infinitely small, it is impossible to have a line segment consisting of two points, but we need not go there for now.) But it is clear that the "and" is needed to unite points into a line or line segment. Similarly, the "or" is necessary to separate the points on a line segment from all the other points on a plane. Thus, the "and" and the "or" must work in tandem to form the basis of geometry, and they also work in tandem to constitute the basis for all geometrical shapes. The "and" and the "or" work together to form the boundaries of a triangle. Similarly, when we calculate the area of a triangle, we are gathering together the points within a triangle (the "and"), determining how much space they cover, and delimiting them from the area outside a triangle (the "or"). The same can be said for all geometrical shapes.
Finally, the same can be said for absolutely anything that takes up space, whether it be a desk or a person. In giving that entity an identity, or at least a physical identity, we are gathering all the points, cells, nails or what have you (the "and") that that entity occupies or contains, and delimiting them from what exists outside that entity.
No comments:
Post a Comment