Geometry Matters. But Why?

Geometry Matters. But why?

The contribution of geometry to the evolution of human and natural sciences is a well established fact. Since the Greeks started to realize that the argument is more powerful when backed up by empirical evidence, rather than previous experience, all sciences started to benefit from an approach that had something new: a system of thought. And that system was based on definitions and axioms given by geometric laws. For example, Pythagoras defined reality with three basic principles, extracted from geometric knowledge:

1. Some propositions must be accepted as true without being demonstrated.

2. All other propositions of the system are derived from these.

3. Their derivation must be formal and independent from the subject at matter.

And since for Pythagoras the things are an imitation of the numbers, their definitions and axioms, will reflect the universe, provide intangible harmony and build visible beauty.

The improving of left-right brain connections.

Most activities engage only one hemisphere of the brain and its corresponding functions: the left for language, hearing, logic and mathematics; the right for spatial recognition, images and music processing, symbolism and so on. By requiring both analytical thinking and spatial visualization, geometry activates processes that engage both sides of the brain at the same time, in resolving a given task. When picturing a cube, for example, the brain is tasked with recognizing spatial properties of the cube (height, depth etc) while maintaining its overall shape (by calculating its angles or the length of its segments). This leads to an elevated number of connections between the brain hemispheres, having a long-term benefit in the overall critical thinking or imagination of the geometry user.

The continuous visual representation of truth.

Because of the early traditions and methods of orally sharing and debating knowledge, the first visual (geometrical) representations of mathematical concepts where being drawn by scribes, sometimes directly when hearing a particular information.  This process was flawed, given that the person drawing did not posses geometric knowledge, thus leading to miss-interpretations and errors in the visual representation. In the early 300’s Euclid becomes aware of this error and begins drawing his own definitions and axioms, developing adjacent texts that can be understood by any mathematician or artist, for that matter.

And, with the introduction of the visual perspective by Leon Battista Alberti, the geometrical diagrams and laws became general accepted when depicting a mathematical truth or any given representation of reality.

Thus, geometry provides continuity in visual communication in general, and a context in which all individual things can be represented, calculated and later better understood.

The creation of visual reality.

The perception of the visual information and its abstract notions is connected to the perception of reality. As many others, Rudolph Arnheim shows how visual information is being formed by the perception of the new and by the memory of the old, showing a continuance in the cognitive process. And since all information has geometric properties when closely analyzed (height, weight, depth, curvature etc), geometry will be present in all aspects of the visual reality.

The perception of beauty and harmony in things.

If what is above is also below, geometry can be a mirror for these two dimensions. While symmetry defines what geometry is, geometric proportions and ratios define man’s perception of beauty and harmony. A harmonic state is associated with an element or an object having its inner components in perfect equilibrium.

Thus, nature is being perceived as beautiful and its creator, good. For example, the complex relation between symmetry and aesthetics is shown in how symmetry defines the perceived qualities of the human body and how these traits are a sign of good health or good genetic conditions.

Man uses beauty as an indicator of truth and while beauty is truth (Ian Stewart), symmetry, proportion and simplicity will define it.

While many of the elements of nature have an innate geometric structure - water, sound or even light - the more complex architecture of the perceived or the hidden dimensions of reality rely on very complex laws that have different types of shapes, boundaries, behaviors and interactions with the micro and the macro elements of the universe.

In analyzing these dimensions and interactions, many sciences rely on geometric studies and developments that generate universal accepted answers. For example, in his famous special relativity theory, Einstein describes the dimension of space-time by creating a coordinate system that fixes and standardizes measurements, in order to specify the relationship between a moving observer and the phenomenon or phenomena under observation.

The place of humans in space-time.

By placing man in the middle of all created things, human consciousness becomes a necessity of life. An antropocentric perspective explains why the universe has an age. Why the universe works at these exact parameters that an objective observer discovers. That we discover.

Thus, man connects himself to the main elements of the universe: the space-time and the fundamental laws of physics, geometric defined aspects of reality, that man can relate to, explore and evolve upon.

The geometric laws and ratios that nature confides in, are also bound to shape human existence. The human body, the human mind and their correspondent dimensions and proportions have geometric properties and attributes, similar to all other elements of nature.

The universal geometric code

The geometric code of information is inherent to nature, inherent to human consciousness and is present in all perceived and created forms, in the tangible and the intangible.

And maybe a reality built under the auspices of geometry is desirable, being a discipline developed with attention along several millennia and with which the greatest minds of history have created concepts, objects, religions and even the entire universe.

1 multiplies itself and creates 2. The paradigm of reality is the result of the conscious observation. If the system from which consciousness takes part is abstract, then reality is an abstraction of this, by reflecting itself and creating form.

2018 © Tib Roibu, Geometry Matters