The Problem of Diversity

In the above diagram Kricher arranges eighteen objects in two vertical columns and then determines the number of arrangements in which they can be combined. By the same method Kricher further estimates that fifty objects may be arranged in 1,273,726,838,815,42,339,851,343,083,767,005,515,293,749,454,795,473,408,000,000,000,000 combinations. From this it will be evident that infinite diversity is possible, for the countless parts of the universe may be related to each other in an incalculable number of ways; and through the various combinations of these limitless subdivisions of being, infinite individuality and infinite variety must inevitably result. Thus it is further evident that life can never become monotonous or exhaust the possibilities of variety. So every one of us is unique and will have a different life. 

Word of the Week

The other day while reading an article about Ayahuasca (psychoactive infusion) I came across this word “Entheogen”, so through this next, I’m going to add at least a new word each week to my lexicon, not only in English, but also in Spanish and German. So hopefully I’m going to be posting every week one new word that I find interesting and that you can also find interesting.

English:

Entheogen: (Enteógeno, Entheogen) in strict sense, is a psychoactive substance used in a religious, psychotherapeutic, recreational, shamanic, or spiritual context. Historically, entheogens were mostly derived from plant sources and have been used in a variety of traditional religious contexts.

German:

Ridge: (Traffic Island, Camellón) is a solid or painted object in a road that channelises traffic. It can also be a narrow strip of island between roads that intersect at an acute angle. If the island uses road markings only, without raised kerbs or other physical obstructions, it is called a painted island.

Spanish:

Abeto: (Fir tree, Tannen) are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range. Firs are most closely related to the cedars (Cedrus); Douglas-firs are not true firs, being of the genus Pseudotsuga.

Plato

Platos real name was Aristocles. When his father brought him to study with Socrates, the great skeptic declared that on the previous night he had dreamed of a White swan, which was to become one of the worlds illumined. There is a tradition that the immortal Plato was sold as a slave by the king of Sicily.