Sunday, December 04, 2005

Mathematical Simile Mathematical Metaphor

Mathematical simile is the function of virtually all applied math equations for which the public is familiar (usually scientific). For example physics equations are paradigms used to correlate experience. Mathematical models can be made for anything rationally understood and are descriptive of the relationships between the elements described.
A simile is a paradigm. One can see this expressed in the physics equation distance is equal to velocity multiplied by time. When you apply this equation to a situation you realize that this is an approximation even for all practical purposes it accomplishes the task at hand. The bottom line is that it is an approximation even though the equation expresses it as exact. The math equation is exact the application is not. Therefore it is simile ‘our experience of distance is like velocity multiplied by time.’ One may argue that the physics equation is metaphor precisely for the same reason e.g. we are saying that distance is exactly equal to velocity multiplied by time and it is not. Therefore we have a logical tension that creates the metaphor. The next step is to look at the intention of the equation, whether it is intended for connotation or denotation. Clearly physics equations are intended for denotation. Therefore what is really important for us is the intention of the equation. This also illuminates the idea that there are a lot of shades of gray between simile and metaphor yet we don’t usually think in this manner. I know a lot of people that think simile and metaphor are really the same. I believe at some point there is a nonsense threshold that one crosses and you can take it no other way except metaphor. Unfortunately that threshold line can be anywhere on a number line between the concept of simile and metaphor. Personally I see that threshold very close to simile. That is as soon as it starts getting nonsensical I consider it metaphor.

The visual image presented takes the following simile and expresses it as metaphor.

Although it may or may not be universally true I find that a man’s intelligence is inversely proportional to the levels of alcohol and testosterone in his system. I gave a lecture last week to a group of art students from Santa Ana Art Institute (Thank you Professor Ben Miles) and when I proposed this statement I got a bunch of laughs and a lot of nodding heads. Consequentially I believe there is some truth in there.

3 comments:

Kaz Maslanka said...

Thank you Gabriel!

Anonymous said...

ON THE SAME PRETEXT AS YOURS, IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THE CORRECTNESS OF PROPORTIONS IN:

INTELLIGENCE X FORCE = OUTCOME

TRY MANIPULATING THIS FORMULA, AND THE FLOW OF PROPORTIONS WILL GIVE INSIGHT TO OUR HUMAN CAPABILITIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, ACORDING TO THE PREVIOUS FORMULA, WE CAN THUS SAY:

INTELLIGENCE = OUTCOME / FORCE

A SIMPLE ANALISYS ON THIS REVEALS THAT WE HUMANS ACT MORE INTELLIGENT WHEN WE GET MORE RESULTS USING THE SAME AMOUNT OF FORCE.

ITS ALSO OBVIOUS THAT IF WE WANT MORE RESULTS, WE EITHER PUT MORE EFFORT (FORCE) INTO OUR ACTIVITIES
OR ACT MORE INTELLIGENT (BETTER ORGANIZATION, CLEAR GOALS, MORE KNOWLEDGE)

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS EQUATION REVEALS THAT WAR DOES INDEED OBTAIN RESULTS BUT IT ISN'T NECESSARILY THE BEST MEANS, OR ACTUALLY WAR SIMPLY SHOWS AN INCAPACITY TO CORRECTLY REASON.

THIS EQUATION REVEALS MUCH MORE.

SINCERILY, GABRIEL
gabstudio@gmail.com

FOR OTHER ORIGINAL MATHEMATICAL IDEAS CHECK OUT:
http://www.youtube.com/v/FxOVxotgBAA

http://www.youtube.com/v/yMraoZZhzZ0

Kaz Maslanka said...

Thank you for dropping by Gabriel ... I think you equation is fine however, you may try substituting other mathematical poems withing it to make it more clear. It seems a bit abstract at the moment. I have a few of those myself that need to be tightened up a bit.

Again Thanks!
Kaz

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