a word from our sponsor

Steven Maas (CUTR) maas at cutr.eng.usf.edu
Fri Sep 26 09:12:27 CDT 1997


> 229.30 `incomprehensibly and perversely, in willful denial of God's
> Disposition of Time and Space, preferring 365 and a Quarter'  Well why
> not?  (AD)

I wrote:
> I took this to mean that in the Jesuit's view, God's Disposition was
> that a year shall have 365 and a Quarter Days; a Circle shall have 360
> Degrees; and Never the Twain shall meet.

while Harrison S. sez:
> There's also the matter of the fact that the phrase "God's Disposition
> of Time and Space" implies that the two measurements--degrees of arc in
> a circle and days of terrestrial orbit--*ought to be the same* [snip]

I don't see that implication in the phrase--it seems to me almost the
opposite, that the Jesuit is saying that god can set these things up
however he she or it wants, regardless of what human logic would dictate. 
[Note that I'm not saying there is validity to the belief I'm ascribing to
Fr. Maire: namely, that 360 Degrees in a Circle is an incontrovertible law
of god or nature rather than an arbitrary human construct.]

Harrison also said:
> Isn't this yet one more example of the mysticism/science,
> Medieval/Enlightenment, East/West dichotomies central to M&D?

Interesting point, but except for East/West I'm unsure which viewpoint,
Jesuit or Chinese, reflects which side of the coin.  Maybe I'm just
especially dense today.

	Steve Maas




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