The Geometry of Meaning

by Arthur M. Young

'All meaning is an angle.' With this intriguing aphorism, Arthur Young introduces his bold exploration of the fundamental relationships underlying reality. 'Meaning' he explains, 'is in general a kind of 'relationship'...for example, let us take two men competing in a tennis match. They are opponents. They face each other. Their positions, both literally and metaphysically, are represented by an angle of 180 degrees, or a diameter. We refer to diameter when we say that two opinions are diametrically opposed. '

Young conceives of this book as an essay in philosophy, but philosophy is the older sense, encompassing the natural sciences, exploring the implications of science, and dealing with the relationship of the knower and the known. At the heart of the book is what he calls the 'Rosetta Stone of meaning,' a diagram of relationships based upon the twelve measure formulae of modern physics, which he uses to describe the interaction of mind with matter.

Genres: Philosophy, Mathematics, Science

169 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1984

Reviews

[Noah Vickstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfortunately overlooked work. Its ideas are not likely to displace current pop science paradigms, but the attentive reader's efforts will be rewarded with a deft and elegant metaphysical examination of a geometric-based study of meaning. Physical phenomena (force, work, velocity, etc.) and their respective relationships with one another form a central part of the analysis in which sequence, order, and harmonics are explored.

It is not overly dense, and while it contains some specialized language, this book should be easy to understand for most readers familiar with math and with cursory knowledge of the sciences. Some of the content is speculation-based, but it is an inquiry performed with such dexterity that the reader suspends criticism to see where it leads, which, by the way, is to a stunningly gorgeous and brilliant thought experiment in which the problem of free will finds a uniquely satisfactory solution.

Recommended to all self-styled scholars and students of truth.

Read this book if you want to know how determinism and free agency can coexist in a model of consciousness, if you are curious what the developmental trajectories of the basic structures in physics potentially represent, if you enjoy discussions on esoteric schemas such as astrology and how they can complement Western empirical descriptions of patterns within systems, and if you enjoy metaphorical as well as literal interpretations for things both abstract and concrete.

I may return to this review to give a brief synopsis of some of the many ideas presented in this book, a gift to the interested dabbler in metaphysics.

[Don Groves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Offers a unique view of physical motion.

[Glynda-lee Hoffmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arthur Young was the developer of the Bell Helicopter. A brilliant scientist, her lends his hand to the structure and behavior of consciousness.

[Whoisabishag · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Are You Done Reading "The Reflexive Universe" : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... "!"