Wednesday, June 18, 2008

My Nemesis



I deal with this every day! For example, try the little entry below and tell me what it means. I would love your responses and will give the answer next week. Don't for a moment think I figured this one out by myself. I had to read someone else's more user-friendly interpretation. (I can't even figure out how to work this blogspot!)

"The Einsteinian constant is not a constant, is not a center. It is the very concept of variability - it is, finally, the concept of the game. In other words, it is not the concept of something - of a center starting from which an observer could master the field - but the very concept of the game" (Derrida).
In mathematical terms, Derrida's observation related to the invariance of the Einstein field equation under nonlinear space-time diffeomorphisms (self-mappings of the space-time manifold which are infinitely differentiable but not necessarily analytic). The key point is that this invariance group "acts transitvely": this means that any space-time point, if it exists at all, can be transformed into any other. In this way the infinite-dimensional invariance group erodes the distinction between observer and observed; and the putative observer becomes fatally de-centered, disconnected from any epistemic link to a space-time point that can no longer be defined by geometry alone" (Sokal 1996, 221-222; quoting Derrida, above, 1970,266)

P.S. The answer is VERY simple.

10 comments:

Tylershark said...

True genius is succinct.

Scott and Angie Cook said...

Mercedes thinks its a game played with a guy named Einstein.

Kenna thinks its a star.

Amber said...

My brain is turned off for the summer, but if I had to venture a guess I would say that this quote is describing NOTHING AT ALL!!! Its just a bunch of random sentences strung together. Kind of like my english paper last semester (for which I got an A!).

Unknown said...
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Gina and Jon said...

You lost me at diffeomorphisms... I don't think I have the patience to even try to figure this out

three dogs and a logan couple said...

I think Kenna totally nailed it the quote is CLEARLY about a star.

KBC said...

They are talking about 'nothing'.

Amber said...

E=MC²
(This is Chris' answer, unless it's right and then it's MY answer!)

Kristen said...

I think the answer relates to the variability in the space-time continuum. Or in other words: no matter where you go, there you are.

Kristen said...

I have a brief but impenetrable response to any author who would argue that there are no certifiable constants in the universe: laundry.