The Secret of the Universe - "God, Man and Matter" E-Book

Nathan R. Wood

• Herausgeber: Youcanprint
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Why is the universe what it is? That is the riddle of the universe. Can we ever solve it? Can we grasp it at all? Of course we cannot with human minds reach out to the ever-receding infinities of universe beyond universe of stars. Neither can we reach inward to the equal infinities of world within world in the atom. This does not need words. We know that we can never do it. We cannot grasp what it really means that a certain island universe is millions of light-years away. We cannot grasp what it means that the electron moves in its orbit around the proton in the atom a quadrillion times a second. It is no shame to us that we cannot grasp such things as these. Our minds are not geared to the infinite. If they were, could we harness them any more to the ledger, the plough, the tool-chest or the cook-stove? What would it profit to grasp the nebula and the electron, and starve or freeze? But our minds do seem fitted to understand.

Leseprobe

THE SECRET

OF

THE UNIVERSE

"GOD, MAN AND MATTER"

by

NATHAN R. WOOD

NEW YORK: F. H. REVEL & CO. 1932

© David De Angelis 2017 [all rights reserved]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

PART I. THE PATTERN OF THE UNIVERSE

I. THE OUTER UNIVERSE

The Data Analyzed

The Relationships of Time

The Structure of the Universe

II. THE INNER UNIVERSE

III. THE DEMAND OF THE UNIVERSE

PART II. THE PROBLEMS OF THE UNIVERSE

INTRODUCTION. THE SECRET OF ALL THINGS

I. THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE PROBLEM OF THE UNITY OF ALL THINGS

II. THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE, AND THE PROBLEM OF SPACE AND MATTER

III. THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE PROBLEM OF SPACE, MOTION AND TIME

IV. THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE PROBLEM OF RELATIVITY

V. THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE PROBLEM OF BEING, OR EXISTENCE

VI. THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE PROBLEM OF CHANGE AND PROGRESS

VII. THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE PROBLEM OF ETHICS, OR THE GOOD

VIII. THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE PROBLEM OF REALITY, OR THE TRUE

IX. THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE PROBLEM OF AESTHETICS, OR THE BEAUTIFUL

CONCLUSION. THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE RIDDLES OF THE UNIVERSE

INTRODUCTION

When the Hebrew Singer, marvelling at the fact of which he had no doubt, that man is visited by God, exclaimed "When I consider Thy Heavens," he was undoubtedly comparing the apparent littleness of man with the vastness of the universe of which he was conscious. The expression "Thy heavens" included for him that universe whose existence was demonstrated by the "Moon and the stars." Evidently it was a song composed at night. Like all inspired expressions it was inclusive. How much it included, the Singer certainly did not know. How vast the universe is, we even now do not know. But to-day we know its vastness far better than David did. Science bewilders us with its affirmations as to its extent. This enlargement of apprehension does but accentuate for thinking minds the wonder of it, and creates what we now often describe, borrowing Haeckel's words, as "The Riddle of the Universe." To recognize a riddle, is to postulate a solution. Finally, somewhere, somehow, there must be a whole, which resolves all parts into itself. Perhaps we should say—that is the conviction of faith, which is the last word of reason. The mind of man has been seeking ever for a statement of that Whole in terms which include all the parts, in other words asking "What is the Secret of the Universe?" For every suggestion which Philosophy has made we are grateful, for its blunders which have needed correction and so have helped us, as well as for its recognitions of principles and laws which abide.

To that great Quest President Nathan Wood has made a contribution in this book. To me it is more than a Quest, it is a Conquest. In bulk this book is small. In reach it is as vast as the Universe. I could describe it as "The Philosophy of the Universe." The Author probably would prefer to call it "A Philosophy of the Universe." Whether "The," with its suggestion of finality, or "A," calling for further investigation, it is Philosophy, and must make an appeal to all who are seeking light on the fascinating mystery.

Personally when Dr. Wood did me the honour of allowing me to peruse the manuscript, I read it with growing amazement, at the final inclusiveness of its outlook, and the clear and cogent statement of its examination of those parts which interpret the whole. The first three parts of the book are as fascinating as a Fairy Story. That perhaps is an unfortunate figure of speech as it may suggest something fanciful. I employ it rather in the sense that truth is stranger than fiction. The final part requires more careful, or shall I say slower reading, as the Author gives us a keen and penetrative analysis of the Universe.

It is not the work of an introduction to give away a "secret." That must be discovered by the reader of the book. At least I do not hesitate to say here is a book, startling, challenging, scholarly, sane, courteous; and it must make its appeal to the consideration of those who are not content to drift through life taking things as they are, but desire to challenge life, not only in its passing hours, and nearest dust, but in its vastness and entirety. In this age, when Philosophy has really had nothing new to say for many generations, but has been satisfied with garbing in new terminology the thinking of other days, here is a book which will surely make men stoplook-and-listen. I would like to put a copy first in the hands of every theological student, and then also in the hands of every student who is endeavoring to "beat his music out." G. CAMPBELL MORGAN.

PART I. THE PATTERN OF THE UNIVERSE

I. THE OUTER UNIVERSE

Why is the universe what it is?—Is it really a universe?—What is its structure?—The basic things—Space—Matter—Time—"Is there a universal principle?"—The Equation of the Universe—How far does the structure of the universe extend?—How the being of God was presented to us—The Data classified—What Space is—What Matter is— What Time is—The Structure of the Universe—How the cause explains the structure— How the structure confirms the cause—The vision of the universe.

Why is the universe what it is? That is the riddle of the universe. Can we ever solve it? Can we grasp it at all? Of course we cannot with human minds reach out to the ever-receding infinities of universe beyond universe of stars. Neither can we reach inward to the equal infinities of world within world in the atom. This does not need words. We know that we can never do it. We cannot grasp what it really means that a certain island universe is millions of light-years away. We cannot grasp what it means that the electron moves in its orbit around the proton in the atom a quadrillion times a second. It is no shame to us that we cannot grasp such things as these. Our minds are not geared to the infinite. If they were, could we harness them any more to the ledger, the plough, the tool-chest or the cook-stove? What would it profit to grasp the nebula and the electron, and starve or freeze? But our minds do seem fitted to understand. They can apparently understand the quality and meaning of things whose immensity they cannot grasp. They are evidently fitted to understand everything which can be understood. That seems somehow to be what they are for.