Understanding Human Perception Through an Absolute Scale

Humans have a natural inclination to categorize and simplify the complex world around us. This instinctual process often revolves around the concept of an absolute scale, where forms like lines, surfaces, and shapes are idealized to perfect standards. This article explores the reasons behind this tendency and its implications for human cognition and scientific understanding.

The Instinct to Idealize and Generalize

When confronted with a chaotic array of objects, we tend to organize them into more manageable categories. For instance, we might sort them based on whether they are straight or curved, flat or three-dimensional, blue or red, harmless or dangerous. These categories help us make sense of the overwhelming complexity of our surroundings. However, it’s important to note that in the real world, forms are rarely if ever perfectly straight lines or perfectly flat surfaces. These idealized forms are abstractions that serve as useful reference points for our understanding.

Practical Applications of Ideal Form Concepts

Even when we make forms ourselves—whether it’s architectural designs, paintings, or other crafted objects—we strive to achieve a level of perfection. This pursuit of perfection, although often attainable only to a limited degree, is crucial for practical applications. For example, architectural designs require precise measurements and lines to ensure stability and functionality. However, no matter how meticulous our efforts, there will always be some minute imperfection. This imperfection, while inevitable, does not negate the value of pursuing absolute standards in our creations.

The Philosophical and Mathematical Implications

Philosophers such as Plato have conceptualized an “ideal” or “perfect” world, free from the imperfections of our physical reality. This idea has inspired countless thought experiments and discussions. Other scholars have extended this notion to the realm of dreams and imagination, suggesting places where the impossible becomes possible, such as ageless lives and meetings with deceased loved ones. These abstract concepts often serve as a bridge between the tangible and the intangible, helping us explore the boundaries of human imagination.

The Role of Mathematical Science

Mathematical science, with its focus on idealized forms and relations, provides a powerful tool for dealing with complexity. Concepts such as ideal gases, perfect spheres, and flat surfaces are essential in theoretical and practical applications ranging from physics to engineering. Mathematical models often begin with idealized assumptions to simplify complex problems before refining them to reflect more realistic conditions. For example, while relativity theory and applied hydrodynamics involve highly complex equations, they are rooted in the initial understanding of absolute forms.

While these idealizations are not perfect reflections of reality, they serve as valuable intermediaries. They allow us to develop and test hypotheses that can eventually be applied to more realistic situations. In this way, our pursuit of absolute standards in mathematics and science provides a framework for understanding and manipulating the world around us, even if it is not a perfect representation.

In conclusion, the tendency of humans to perceive and idealize forms through an absolute scale is a fundamental aspect of our cognitive and practical abilities. While these ideals are often imperfect reflections of reality, they serve as essential tools for making sense of and interacting with the world in a meaningful way.

References

Plato. Republic. Translated by Benjamin Jowett. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Newman, James Gow. The World of Mathematics. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1956. Einstein, Albert. Relativity: The Special and the General Theory. Translated by Robert W. Lawson. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1920.