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#1 2014-11-04 23:41:49
- 4F Hepcat
- THE Cat
- Posts: 14333
Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
Albert Einstein: “If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor.”
Discuss if you want.
Vibe-Rations in Spectra-Sonic-Sound
#2 2014-11-05 13:09:33
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
The pursuit and dissemination of truth is a dirty business. You think Shooey bothers with "elegance"?
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955
#3 2014-11-05 16:55:53
- TheExpandingMan
- Member
- Posts: 841
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
Elegance flows naturally from the truth, especially the kind of truth that Einstein was (I assume) speaking about.
I can think of few things more elegant than a complex mathematical equation that proves something about a chaotic real life event that would appear to have nothing at all to do with mathematics.
Last edited by TheExpandingMan (2014-11-05 16:56:08)
#4 2014-11-05 17:22:45
- prince nez
- Member
- Posts: 371
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
I think Einstein's point was that the truth is often anything but elegant, and that such aesthetically pleasing goals can't always be realised when more complex equations are required, as these are by definition cumbersome and awkward. Look at some of the recent iterations of string theory for example - a solution that necessitates 25 dimensions - 21 of which we can have no experience of - may reflect a mathematical and physical truth (who knows?), but it certainly isn't nice and tidy.
Of course the statement is ironic coming from Einstein, who's most famous equation is the epitome of elegance to describe a complex concept.
#5 2014-11-06 10:22:06
- 4F Hepcat
- THE Cat
- Posts: 14333
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
It can be interpreted a number of ways, but I think he was saying that God is the tailor and that the elegance is to be found in his grand design of the cosmos e.g. E=MC2. That is, you will only find the beauty and refinement by looking at the rules that created and sustains the universe. The analogy with tailoring is apt.
Vibe-Rations in Spectra-Sonic-Sound
#6 2014-11-06 10:39:57
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
I'm pretty sure he was referring to his German Shepherd named Elegance. She was always meddling while he was trying to work so he recommended that Elsa take the dog to stay with their neighbor, who was a tailor by trade.
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955
#7 2014-11-06 10:55:52
- 4F Hepcat
- THE Cat
- Posts: 14333
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
Vibe-Rations in Spectra-Sonic-Sound
#8 2014-11-06 10:57:09
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
My apologies. Pay me no mind and carry on.
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955
#9 2014-11-06 10:59:13
- 4F Hepcat
- THE Cat
- Posts: 14333
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
I could have been a contender.....
Anyway, where was I, the Supreme Being as Master Tailor and Einstein as his showroom dummy.....
Vibe-Rations in Spectra-Sonic-Sound
#10 2014-11-06 11:42:57
- Gilbert the Filbert
- Member
- From: Hanover Square
- Posts: 190
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
Surely, it means that elegance is inherent in The Truth, so get to the point when seeking and describing The Truth.
"O could I as Harlequin frisk,
And thou be my Columbine fair,
My wand should, with one magic whisk,
Transport us to Hanover Square." The Knut with a 'K'.
#11 2014-11-06 12:07:06
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
I maintain, he meant that THE ENDEAVOR of seeking truth is a dirty business, and no place for making concessions to elegance, beauty, etc., although these things may be found once the truth has been uncovered. Pretty much what Prince Nez said.
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955
#12 2014-11-06 12:27:34
- Gilbert the Filbert
- Member
- From: Hanover Square
- Posts: 190
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
"O could I as Harlequin frisk,
And thou be my Columbine fair,
My wand should, with one magic whisk,
Transport us to Hanover Square." The Knut with a 'K'.
#13 2014-11-06 12:30:50
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955
#14 2014-11-06 12:41:03
- Gilbert the Filbert
- Member
- From: Hanover Square
- Posts: 190
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
"O could I as Harlequin frisk,
And thou be my Columbine fair,
My wand should, with one magic whisk,
Transport us to Hanover Square." The Knut with a 'K'.
#15 2014-11-06 12:42:03
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
Of course we're all going to glean a different meaning from this, which was the point of Hep's post anyway, but perhaps it would be interesting to know the context of the statement. Anyone know the source of the quote?
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955
#16 2014-11-06 12:43:50
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955
#17 2014-11-06 12:48:19
- Gilbert the Filbert
- Member
- From: Hanover Square
- Posts: 190
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
"O could I as Harlequin frisk,
And thou be my Columbine fair,
My wand should, with one magic whisk,
Transport us to Hanover Square." The Knut with a 'K'.
#18 2014-11-06 12:52:08
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
Whoa whoa...
Who's attacking who here? I was just kidding around. You had to go and get all bent out of shape and insult me.
And I didn't realize we were even "arguing". We were simply debating interpretation of a statement. Dang man...
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955
#19 2014-11-06 12:56:30
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
And by the way, I'm completely fine with losing any argument. It's quite healthy. Beta-brain... wtf?
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955
#20 2014-11-06 13:01:12
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
Oh, and that's not a concession. I'm still perfectly happy with my interpretation of the quote.
Sorry for my little quip at you, Gilbert. It was really just a playful joke. I know humor doesn't always translate so well on here.
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955
#21 2014-11-06 13:03:15
- Gilbert the Filbert
- Member
- From: Hanover Square
- Posts: 190
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
OK, WM You can have an indirect free-kick and a free curry of Mrs W-M's choice - plus three popadoms each.
"O could I as Harlequin frisk,
And thou be my Columbine fair,
My wand should, with one magic whisk,
Transport us to Hanover Square." The Knut with a 'K'.
#22 2014-11-06 13:09:43
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
Mmmmmmm.... curry.
Well, in any event, at least Hep's thread has grown some legs (thanks to us) and he's inching that much closer to getting that tie.
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955
#24 2014-11-06 13:22:18
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955
#25 2014-11-06 13:29:24
- Worried Man
- Member
- From: Davebrubeckistan
- Posts: 15988
Re: Truth, Elegance and The Tailor
I'm looking at beauty and truth as being apart from one another here. Distinguishing between the two, the tailor endeavors for beauty and elegance, the mathematician labors for the truth. They're not seeking the same thing. That is, the physicist or the mathematician isn't out to find beauty or elegance, as such.
"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955