To quote Henry Rollins; “My mind is a block of obsidian coated in Teflon, impervious to the uptake of knowledge. I torture myself with books I don’t understand in the vain hope something will finally seep in.” I feel much the same way about myself, especially in the realm of the natural and humanistic sciences. For years I’ve been reading physics books that claim they could teach the fundamentals of the universe as Man understands it to an eight year old retarded child. It seems either they overestimated their ability to teach or people have overestimated me (in relation to an eight year old retarded kid) because there are so many things that I simply did not understand, and still don’t.
But yesterday, while reading Simon Singh’s “Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe,” I finally understood Albert Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, which governs, for me, one of the hardest fundamentals of physics to grasp due to its counter-intuitiveness; that time is relative. It is the foundation of the until-yesterday-baffling Twin Paradox. Finally having it set in an example that finally let it make sense to me, I could literally feel a barrier in my mind give way and understanding flood in. Those eureka moments are few and far between for someone en par with Timmy (aforementioned eight year old retarded boy), but the sense of elation is addictive and exhilirating. It makes me hopeful that one day I might be somebody.
very cool. what was the example?
Just so that everyone knows, I’m not ignoring Eva’s question, it’s just that it’s nearly impossible to explain the example without drawing pictures and using visual references. So, in light of that (pun intended), I explained it over drinks before she left for Dubai. :)
I demand an explanation too….will you come over and give me one over drinks? First one is on me ;)
No, it’s going to have to wait until you’re back here, big boy. :)
I also demand an explanation! And drinks!