When Richard Feynman looked at a problem, he would often ask for a nuts and bolts example in order to better understand it.
In order to calculate basic time and distance solutions, simple math is adequate.
For example, a train traveling at 40 miles per hour for three hours might travel 120 miles.
Looking at more complex situations such as those involving more variables might require a more rigorous approach.
Examples of some of these might include variables such as acceleration, gravitation, angular momentum, and so on.
Also, perhaps speed, direction, etc. of the starting point and destination might also be included.
All of these variables come into play in the practical task of, say, piloting or navigating a spacecraft.
Other pertinent dependent factors might include fuel requirements, external environmental components (atmosphere, weather, etc.).
These various components often require much more intense mathematics to resolve.
Just as we don’t need mathematical solutions to, say, tie our shoe laces each time we put our shoes on, oft times we don’t require a fluency in extremely complicated mathematics to complete our daily activities.
However, a knowledge of such math and what it can do gives us the certainty that a scientific explanation is available.
It allows us to trust our intuitive gut feelings that our reasoning is sound and has a scientific basis. That is, we could work it out and prove it mathematically if needed.
Calculus provides just such a framework.
A Layman’s View of the Math
I’m not so interested in gaining a practical facility in working with vector and tensor calculus, but rather in gaining an intuitive understanding of these concepts.
With a powerful framework like this as a basis, so much more of our observable universe may become integrated within our possibility of understanding.
I can then use this understanding to gain a more comprehensive vision of reality.
This might also be used as a window into seeing and explicating the T’ai Chi movements in a more coherent and scientific way, shining a light on what is often viewed as nonverbal, but perhaps more accurately described mathematically within the format of a matrix of integrated variables!
Just as we wouldn’t have much use for describing tying our shoelaces mathematically, we might not actually benefit from a mathematical description of the T’ai Chi movements.
Having the ability to do so might lay a solid scientific basis to explain the more intuitive or mindful qualities of the form.
It could show how the internal integration and relationships of all the variables within each movement creates something in which the whole becomes more than the sum of the parts, explaining the mechanism by which practicing the form may expand the consciousness of the player, not with words but with math!
Namaste,
Daniel
