Thoughts

As with the ascension to the 4th year, time becomes an even more scarce luxury. Despite some committments for the next day, we have decided to post some interesting ideas.

Just recently, we began pondering about numbers. Let's say 4, it is easily understood what is meant by 4 cats, 4 dogs, etc. But, remove the cats and dogs, can one say, "I have 4"? It raises questions like 4 what? Period. Now think about it a little more deeply, what exactly is 4? Since our childhood we've been taught that it is a numerical value, a positive integer, whole number, etc. But what does it mean? What is 4 to us? Is it just this symbol "4", wouldn't it mean the same as "four", or even "IV"?

Perhaps it might be similar to Jean Baudrillard's arugment of a hyperreality (or the absence of a reality). He argues that the images of reality have ultimately replaced reality itself, espacially with the use of the internet. We recognise "4", "four" and even "IV" as the numerical value four. Taking a page out of Baudrillard's book, these are what he says are the successive phases of the image:

1. It is the reflection of a basic reality

2. It masks and perverts a basic reality

3. It masks the absence of a basic reality

4. It bears no relation to any reality whatever; it is its own pure simulacrum

Now think about this in relation to 4. First, these symbols are a good representation of the numerical value of 4. We see them in our math books, the papers, everywhere. They pretty much perfectly represent 4. But then, to say those symbols pervert and mask the "reality" of 4, is not exactly entirely false. Since we have no clue as to what exactly is this "four", aren't we distorting what it is by defining it with those symbols that actually have a form? Thirdly, to say the symbols mask the absence of such a thing as "four" is quite true as well. Since we have no clue what this "four" is, could it be it is because it doesn't exist? And lastly, perhaps it is actually a simulation, it doesn't even represent anything, since we have no idea what those symbols are even trying to represent.

Hope we haven't entangled your mind too much, do try to enjoy it though.

Complements of Ambrose & Cyril