On a column about abstraction by Eugenia Cheng of The Wall Street Journal and Mass:
“The dreams of pure mathematics end up having a profound effect on our daily lives. Abstract concepts and real life are not so far apart after all—which is why both the spirit of Christmas and Santa Claus get credit for the delights of the holiday season.”
I have written on this blog before about the difference between abstraction and empathy in art. I don’t know math well at all, But I think I know the dichotomy well in art. This is based on a German writer from the early 20th century. Basically abstraction is better in a time of pain or failure, while empathy is better at a time that may also be of pain but also success.
It also Christmas time now, as the column mentions. It brings to mind The Catcher in the Rye, which deals famously with a young adolescent man at Christmas time in a big city. Holidays can be depressing; Salinger was right about that.
On another matter, the pastor today spoke about the Luke gospel and the evil possible with tax collectors and soldiers. Even if you are not religious, the pastor also made the point from the writings of St. Paul that there are “some things beyond your understanding.” I think we all have to be humble about how much we know.